Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 136 - "The Big Bus Bettis Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: Heralded true freshman QB Jared Curtis, Vanderbilt's top recruit, will appear in comedian Nate Bargatze's movie "The Breadwinner" as part of his NIL deal, per Outkick's Clay Travis, although he has yet to take a singular snap at the collegiate level - - The former five-star recruit, competing with Blaze Berlowitz for the starting gig next season at Vanderbilt, will appear as a cameo in the film - - Bargatze, a Vanderbilt fan, is based in Nashville and appeared on ESPN's "College Gameday" in 2025 as a guest picker, for the Commodores' game against Missouri, as it was there that he called out Curtis and asked him to flip his recruitment from Georgia to Vanderbilt, and also threw out the idea of the QB being featured in one of his films - - Bargatze is holding up his end of the bargain, as now, Curtis will appear in the film wearing a Vanderbilt hat while shopping for a car, according to the report - - Curtis, the No.4 overall recruit and No.2-ranked QB nationally in the 2026 Class, chose Vanderbilt - his hometown school - two weeks later following Bargatze's offer - - **NOTE: Curtis is the highest-ranked recruit in program history, and represents a huge shift in the Commodores' status as a football program, especially after winning a program-best 10 games in 2025 with Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia behind center. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Vanderbilt true freshman QB Jared Curtis serving as a cameo in Nate Bargatze's film "The Breadwinner" as part of his NIL deal? Could this type of cameo feature become a regular occurrence that is potentially included as part of a recruit's NIL deal?. . ."The TIGAZZ Are Back in Town:" LSU has finalized a deal to add Ed Orgeron to its football coaching staff, the school announced Wednesday night - - Orgeron's role will officially be special assistant to recruiting and defense for the Tigers - - Orgeron is the former HC at LSU, to which he led to a national title in 2019 - - He reunites with LSU HC Lane Kiffin, Orgeron's longtime friend and colleague with whom he previously worked at USC and Tennessee - after last collaborating for a brief stint at USC in 2013 - as the relationship between Kiffin and Orgeron goes back a quarter century, as they first served on a staff together in 2001 under Pete Carroll at USC, as Orgeron is largely credited with being the recruiting engine during that gilded USC era - - Along with serving as the head coach at Ole Miss & LSU and as the interim coach at USC, Orgeron crafted a reputation as one of the country's top recruiters and defensive line coaches - - Fortunately, recent changes in NCAA recruiting rules will allow Orgeron to go out on the road to recruit for the Tigers, selling the two things he knows intimately well: LSU and Kiffin. . .Q: How do you feel about Ed Orgeron being hired at LSU to serve on Lane Kiffin's staff as the special assistant to recruiting and defense? Could Orgeron's hire potentially be related to a potential interim role in the event that the LSU gig does not go as planned?. . .⭐"A Special Discussion on the NIL Rule & NCAA Transfer Portal and How They Are Changing the Landscape of College Sports:⭐: In this week's "special discussion" segment, JD & Spencer discuss the NIL, the NCAA Transfer Portal, and Player Opt-Outs - as well as the way in which each of these factors have drastically changed the landscape of college sports, specifically college football - and finally, they discuss & provide their individual feedback of what the future of NIL is as it continues to evolve across the collegiate (or University) level. . .**Be Sure to Tune in for This Week's Special Discussion segment. . .NCAA College Basketball: Head basketball coach Will Wade has earned the "American Gangster" moniker, but LSU is taking an even more brazen affront to the NCAA's shaky eligibility rules and regulations: Former Boston Celtics guard RJ Luis Jr., who is looking to return to college, has signed with LSU, per multiple reports, in hopes to play one more season in the collegiate ranks - - The same RJ Luis Jr., who earned 2025 Big East Player of the Year honors under St. John's coach Rick Pitino two seasons ago - after averaging 18.2 points & 7.2 rebounds for the Red Storm - and who controversially chose to remain in the 2025 NBA Draft despite numerous seven-figure deals that were on the table in last spring's transfer portal market - - Luis, 23, didn't play this season due primarily to injury, but he did, however, suit up for three (3) preseason games for the Celtics back in October - - Luis went through the NBA draft process last summer, and while he wasn't drafted, he signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz, prior to being acquired by the Celtics in the Georges Niang trade - - However, Luis was waived by the C's ahead of the 2026 NBA season and didn't suit up for a regular-season game - - It remains to be seen what Luis' eligibility will be next season as he looks to return to the collegiate ranks, as the NCAA has set the precedent that any player that received compensation from an NBA franchise - for instance, signing a two-way contract - will be deemed ineligible, and so, Luis might not be able to return to the college ranks, despite signing with the Will Wade's Tigers. . .Q: Should RJ Luis Jr. be granted an additional year of college eligibility even after signing a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz and suiting up for three (3) preseason games for the NBA's Boston Celtics? Does this not feel like a very "Will Wade-esque" type of move, allowing RJ Luis Jr. to sign with LSU?. . .

- NFL - - Aaron Rodgers isn't done just yet. .Following another prolonged decision-making process, four-time NFL MVP and QB Aaron Rodgers, has officially signed a one-year deal to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2026-27 season, with the deal reportedly being worth up to $25 million, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, and furthermore, it is expected to include a base salary between $22 and $23 million, with up to a few million more in incentives - - The signing comes just weeks after the Steelers placed a UFA tender on Rodgers, 42, in a procedural move that would either give them a compensatory draft pick if he signed elsewhere before training camp or restrict his ability to sign with another team once camp begins - - Though the Steelers remained confident & in communication with Rodgers throughout the process, the QB still made the decision on his own timeline, despite team owner and president Art Rooney II publicly saying that the organization expected a resolution by the start of April's NFL Draft - - Instead, Rodgers traveled to Pittsburgh the weekend of the team's minicamp and agreed to the deal before the team's first voluntary OTA session - - And Rodgers also acknowledged that his familiarity with a number of assistants brought to Pittsburgh by McCarthy added to his interest in returning to the Steelers - - The Steelers added to their QB room while they waited, and drafted Penn State star Drew Allar in the third round in a move new HC Mike McCarthy said was unrelated to Rodgers' impending decision - - McCarthy, hired to replace longtime HC Mike Tomlin in January, previously expressed his desire to reunite with Rodgers, for whom he coached for 13 seasons in Green Bay - as Rodgers called it a "full circle" moment to be able to play for McCarthy again - - Though Rodgers' first season in Pittsburgh was inconsistent & ended with the worst playoff performance of his career in a wild-card loss to the Houston Texans - which featured Rodgers being sacked four (4) times and him completing just 51.5% of his pass attempts as the Steelers struggled mightily against the Texans' stacked defense - but he also authored several remarkable wins, especially late in the season, including the Week 18 win against the Baltimore Ravens that clinched the AFC North title - as Rodgers completed 66% of his attempts & threw for a season-high 294 yards passing - - Rodgers finished the 2025 season completing 65.7% of his attempts - his best mark since 2021 - and threw for 3,322 yards with 24 TDs and seven (7) INTs. . .Q: What are your thoughts on 42-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year deal? - - **UPDATE: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday that the 2026 NFL season will be the last of his Hall of Fame-worthy career. . .Q: How do you feel about the Aaron Rodgers-Mike McCarthy reunion in Pittsburgh? How do you anticipate that it will end?. . "Cooked Rice:" Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice has been sentenced to serve 30 days in jail after testing positive for marijuana in violation of the terms of his probation for his role in a crash that left multiple people injured on a Dallas highway two years ago - - The Texas State Attorney's Office said Tuesday that Rice was ordered to go to jail immediately as part of his original 30-day sentence for third-degree felony of racing & causing bodily injury - - Rice had received deferred adjudication after pleading guilty, and the case would have been dismissed if he had completed the probation: he was placed in custody and booked into the Dallas County jail at 1:25 a.m. ET, per jail records, and he is set to be released on June 16 - - Meanwhile, the Chiefs have voluntary practices that are scheduled to begin next week as well as a mandatory minicamp that is set to end June 11, however, it was reported shortly after Rice's arrest that, one week prior, he underwent a clean-up surgery on his right knee to remove loose debris that was causing inflammation, per sources to ESPN's Adam Schefter - - Rice is expected to be sidelined for two months but is expected to be ready for training camp later this summer, sources confirmed - - The Chiefs said they have been in touch with the NFL concerning the matter, yet the team nor the league representatives have publicly commented on Rice's arrest. . .Q: Should the Kansas City Chiefs - or most importantly the NFL - implement some type of disciplinary action for WR Rashee Rice following his most recent probation violation?. . .

- NBA - - "A New Direction:" Jason Kidd is out as the head coach for the Dallas Mavericks after five (5) seasons in what the team described as a "mutual decision" Tuesday evening - - Kidd has four (4) years and more than $40 million remaining on his current contract, sources told ESPN, but Mavericks' team governor Patrick Dumont - who extended Kidd's contract during Dallas' NBA Finals run in 2024 and again before last season after they declined the New York Knicks' request to interview him for their vacant head coaching position, gave new team president Masai Ujiri full authorization to determine the coach's future with the franchise - - The Mavs also parted ways with several members of the basketball operations department on Tuesday, including assistant GM Matt Riccardi, who had served as the team's interim GM alongside Michael Finley following the dismissal of former GM Nico Harrison - - Finley's tenure with the franchise, however, has not yet been determined - - Kidd had a 205-205 overall record as the HC of the Mavericks, whereas Dallas went 22-18 in the playoffs under Kidd, advancing to the 2022 Western Conference finals and the 2024 NBA Finals - - Prior to the Luka Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, under Kidd, the Mavs had a 136-87 record with Doncic in the starting lineup and went 69-118 without him, which included a 26-56 record last season - - **NOTE: Kidd has a 388-395 record as a NBA head coach, having begun his coaching career with the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 immediately after his retirement as a player, and coaching the Milwaukee Bucks from 2014 to 2018. . .Q: Were you surprised by Dallas Mavericks' president Masai Ujiri's decision to dismiss HC Jason Kidd after five (5) seasons?. . .2025-26 NBA Playoffs Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer provide a weekly recap for each of the following semifinal & conference final round games from across the league, and also discuss a few of the major storylines from the 2025-26 NBA Playoffs:

Game 7: No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers      [Series tied 3-3]

Game 1: No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers     [Series 0-0]

Game 1: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.2 San Antonio Spurs   [Series 0-0]

Game 2: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.2 San Antonio Spurs  [SA leads series 1-0]

- NBA (cont'd) - - "Trading Magic for Voodoo:" The New Orleans Pelicans have hired former Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley as the franchise's new HC, per executive VP of basketball operations Joe Dumars, who made the announcement on Monday - - Mosley, who led the Magic to three (3) consecutive playoff berths over the past three (3) seasons despite multiple injury-plagued campaigns, was fired on May 4 - just a day after Orlando lost in Game 7 to the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs following a 3-1 series lead - - That ultimately cleared the way for the Pelicans to fully focus on Mosley, who had a 189-221 record in his five (5) seasons in Orlando - - The 47-year-old Mosley, who finished second in the NBA Coach of the Year voting in 2023-24, had the third-most regular-season wins in Magic franchise history (189) - - Prior to the addition of Mosley, Orlando hadn't made the playoffs for three (3) straight seasons since the team did it six (6) years in a row from 2006-08 through 2011-12 - - Mosley built teams anchored by strong defenses, with the Magic ranked No.3 overall in 2023-24, No.2 in 2024-25 & No.11 this season - - In New Orleans, Mosley will take over a roster mixed with young talent such as Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears & Yves Missi and veterans such as Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole, Dejounte Murray & Herbert Jones, however, this is a team that finished the season with a 26-56 record, yet they own just one draft pick in the upcoming NBA Draft in June - No.58 - after trading away their first-rounder in a draft-day deal a year ago, which helped them move up to acquire Queen. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the New Orleans Pelicans hiring former Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley as the franchise's new HC?. . ."Back 2 Back:" Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA MVP for a second consecutive season on Sunday, winning the award in a landslide after another stellar year for the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder - - SGA was flanked by his Thunder teammates during a news conference at the Thunder's practice facility, as they all wore Burberry trench coats that were given to them as part of a lavish gift basket by Gilgeous-Alexander - - **NOTE: Gilgeous-Alexander became just the 14th player ever to win back-to-back NBA MVP awards, which puts him in truly historic company - - Only some of the greatest names the league has ever seen has accomplished the feat, including Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic & Giannis Antetokounmpo, as now SGA joins that legendary list - - Gilgeous-Alexander, 27, ranked second in the NBA in scoring with 31.1 points per game while shooting a career-best 55.3% from the field, as he also averaged a career-high 6.6 assists for the 64-18 Thunder, who had the NBA's best overall record for a second consecutive season - - The other MVP finalists this season were Jokic and Wembanyama, as SGA led the way with 83 of the total 100 first-place votes, while Jokic finished second and Wemby third - - Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers and Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons rounded out the top five (5), while both players just missed the NBA's cutoff for postseason award eligibility but were granted an exception upon appeal. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being named NBA MVP for a second consecutive season?. . .

- Miscellaneous - - UFC: Conor McGregor will return to competition for the first time in five (5) years this summer, UFC CEO Dana White announced Saturday: McGregor (22-6) will face Max Holloway (27-9) in a non-title welterweight bout at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas - - The former two-weight UFC champion's return will take place after a five-year layoff, as McGregor's last appearance was a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier on July 10, 2021, where he suffered a broken leg in the loss - - The pairing is a rematch of a featherweight matchup that took place in August 2013 and was McGregor's second fight in the UFC - - McGregor, 37, was supposed to face Michael Chandler in a comeback fight at UFC 303 in June 2024 but withdrew with a toe injury - - He has dealt with multiple legal issues outside of the Octagon during his absence, most notably, in November 2024 when an Irish jury found him liable in a civil sexual assault case stemming from an incident that occurred in 2018 - and he lost an appeal of that result in Ireland's High Court in July - - In the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett will face Benoit Saint Denis in a lightweight bout, as Pimblett returns to the Octagon for the first time since January when he suffered his first loss in the UFC to Justin Gaethje, while Saint Denis most recently defeated Dan Hooker in Australia in January and is riding a four-fight win streak. . .Q: Will you be tuning into UFC 329 for the McGregor-Holloway and Pimblett-Denis co-main event?. . .MMA: Ronda Rousey stopped Gina Carano with her signature armbar just 17 seconds into the iconic fighter's mixed martial arts comeback bout on Saturday night - - The 39-year-old Rousey ended a nine & a half-year absence from MMA when she took the cage with 44-year-old Carano, who hadn't fought in 17 years - - Rousey wasted no time when the door finally closed, charging & tackling Carano an instant after the opening bell rang - - **NOTE: Rousey famously won eight (8) fights in less than a minute during her meteoric rise through MMA in the 2010s - - Carano was all smiles even after the swift end to one of the longest layoffs in pro sports history, as this improbable double comeback bout united two of the most important fighters from MMA's past two decades - - Rousey has repeatedly said that this would be her final fight, whereas Carano has said that she doesn't know what the future holds. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Ronda Rousey's 17-second MMA victory over Gina Carano on Saturday night?. . .PGA: Until Sunday, Aaron Rai was best known for being the PGA Tour golfer who played with two gloves. . .Now, Rai will be remembered as the first English-born golfer to win the PGA Championship in more than a century after his stunning victory at Aronimink Golf Club - - In a final round in which none of the game's biggest stars seemed capable of taking control, Rai finally did and won the Wanamaker Trophy after a 5-under 65 - - His 72-hole total of 9-under 271 was three (3) strokes better than Jon Rahm & Alex Smalley - - Rai said he was not aware of England's 107-year drought without a PGA Championship until Saturday - - **NOTE: He became the first English-born golfer to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes captured the first two tournaments in 1916 and 1919, which were both match-play competitions - - Rai's victory ended a 10-year streak of American golfers winning the Wanamaker, as Australia's Jason Day had been the most recent non-American to win the PGA when he triumphed at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in 2015 - - Rai's knockout blows came on back-to-back birdies on Nos. 16 and 17, as he sank a 68 1/2-foot putt on the par-3 17th - the second-longest putt made by any player in the field this week - - Now, he gets a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour and invitations to the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship for the next five (5) years - and as for the PGA Championship, he is welcome back for life and earned a $3.7 million payday. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Aaron Rai becoming the first English-born golfer to win the PGA Championship in the previous 107 years?. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 135 - "The Big Hurt Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: "Basket Weaving 101:" Some SEC football coaches aren't waiting for next season's kickoff to get after each other: One day after LSU HC Lane Kiffin's controversial comments concerning Ole Miss, Texas HC Steve Sarkisian made the following statement to USA Today: "At Texas, we will only take 50% of a player's academic credit hours. You may be a semester from graduating, but you're going all the way back to 50% if you play here and want a degree. But at Ole Miss, they can take you. All you have to do is take basket weaving, and you can get an Ole Miss degree." - - A University of Texas athletic department spokesperson told ESPN on Tuesday that Sarkisian's comments were part of a larger conversation about tampering and [that] he was stressing the importance of academics at the University - - Shortly afterwards, first-year Florida HC Jon Sumrall, a former assistant at Ole Miss, added to the fray later Tuesday afternoon with a jab at Sarkisian via social media: "Grateful to coach at a top 10 public university that also offers advanced basket weaving!". . .Q: What are your thoughts on Sarkisian's comments regarding Ole Miss academics for student-athletes? - - The flurry of jabs comes just weeks before the SEC's annual spring meetings, which is scheduled to occur May 26-28 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach, Florida - - In a four-hour interview with Vanity Fair magazine that was published on Monday, Lane Kiffin - who was the head football coach at Ole Miss prior to accepting a similar role at LSU - said that some top [high school] recruits would tell him [that] they weren't interested in coming to Oxford, Mississippi: "[They would say], 'Hey Coach, we really like you, but my grandparents aren't letting me move to Oxford, Mississippi," Kiffin told the magazine. "That doesn't come up when you say Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Parents were sitting here this weekend saying the campus's diversity feels so great: 'It feels like there's no segregation. And we want that for our kid because that's the real world."' - - According to the article, Kiffin clarified his remarks one day later: "I just hope [my comment] comes across respectful to Ole Miss . . .There are some things that I'm saying that are factual; they're not shots." - - Let's analyze the overall demographics of the two college towns: The population of Baton Rouge (LA) - home to Louisiana State University - is 52% African-American (or Black) and 34% Caucasian (or White), according to 2024 census data, whereas Oxford - the home of Ole Miss University - is 66% Caucasian (or White) and 26% African-American (or Black) - - Kiffin led Ole Miss to a 50-19 overall record from 2020 to 2025 prior to leaving for LSU, whom of which offered him a seven-year contract worth about $13 million annually - - There is no doubt that Kiffin's remarks will serve as additional motivation for Pete Golding & the Ole Miss Rebels as they prepare for the upcoming 2026-27 college football season, especially for one particular date that we are sure they have circled on their calendar, September 19th, the date that Lane Kiffin & the LSU Tigers travel to Oxford to take on the Rebels. . .Q: What is your take on Lane Kiffin's comments to Vanity Fair magazine regarding the differences in overall campus diversity between that of Ole Miss & LSU? While he has since attempted to clarify his remarks, on a more personal level, do you believe that his comments were, in fact, "calculated?". . .Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy has been released from the hospital after being shot in the upper leg early Sunday morning, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel, as he plans to head to Missouri's campus immediately to begin rehabbing with the goal of playing this year, sources said - - The 20-year-old Tigers' star RB was shot while attending a "rap concert," in his native Mississippi, and was rushed to Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, where he immediately underwent surgery: The shooting incident reportedly occurred around 2 a.m. Sunday outside a concert at the Kamakazy Biker Club in Laurel, Mississippi, as the Laurel police department informed the local news affiliate on Monday that at least two people were injured and three (3) people of interest were in custody, as three (3) 19-year-old men, identified as Landice Magee, Jvon Sibley & Alvin Peyton, were arrested & booked into the Jones County (MS) jail on Sunday, in connection with the shooting of Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy - - According to numerous reports & posts on social media, the three (3) suspects were former high school teammates of Hardy's at Lawrence County High School in Mississippi - - A first-team All-SEC selection last season, Hardy was second among FBS players with 1,649 rushing yards last season - - **NOTE: The first-team Associated Press All-America selection and SEC Newcomer of the Year also scored 16 TDs and averaged 6.4 yards on his 256 rushing attempts en route to being a finalist for the Doak Walker Award - - Hardy transferred to Missouri from UL Monroe following the 2024 CFB season, when he rushed for 1,351 yards and 13 TDs on 237 rushing attempts. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Ahmad Hardy shooting?. . . "It Really Do Be Your Own Family:" Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day will have some very familiar competition in the Big Ten Conference very soon. .The son of the Ohio State football coach, R.J. Day, announced his commitment to Northwestern University for the Class of 2027 on Sunday - as the Wildcats play in the same conference as Ohio St., and the schools/programs will face off in a B1G Conference matchup during the regular season - - R.J. Day, a 6-foot-1, 205-lb QB prospect from - not surprisingly - Columbus, Ohio, who has started for three (3) years at St. Francis DeSales High School, will begin his senior season this fall - after which point, he plans to enroll at Northwestern under head football coach David Braun - - According to reports, the younger Day received other offers from Purdue, Syracuse, Cincinnati & South Florida, among others - - With his commitment, Northwestern will feature a total of eight (8) QBs on Braun's roster, but the most interesting aspect of R.J.'s commitment Northwestern involves the Wildcats' newly-hired OC: the OC for the Wildcats is Chip Kelly, who ironically served in the same role for Ryan Day at Ohio State when the Buckeyes won the national championship in 2024, and he was also the OC at New Hampshire when Ryan Day was the team captain from 1998-2001. . .Q: What does R.J. Day's commitment to Northwestern tell you about his capabilities as a QB prospect? Could you imagine a father vs. son scenario that becomes engrained into the Ohio St.-Northwestern regular-season matchup of the 2027-28 season?. . ."An Evaluation & Analysis of the Alabama Crimson Tide's 2025-26 College Football Season/2026-27 Season Outlook (aka, our "Alabama Postmortem" segment): In this particular segment, JD & Spencer conduct a post-analysis of the 2025-26 Alabama Crimson Tide college football season, a sort of postmortem if you will (i.e., A Season Overview). . .as well as evaluate/grade their offseason acquisitions (i.e., by way of recruiting as well as via the NCAA transfer portal) for this particular recruiting cycle. . .Finally, they each present their independent thoughts regarding the program & its' overall direction as we draw closer to the upcoming 2026-27 season (i.e., A Preseason Outlook). . .which also includes an overview & discussion of HC Kalen DeBoer's performance throughout his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa, and what pertinent factors might determine whether this coaching staff is or is not on the "hot seat.". . .

- MLB - - Less than a week after the passing of former Atlanta Braves team owner, Ted Turner, former longtime manager & World Series champion Bobby Cox, 84, who won more than 2,500 games in his career and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014, has passed away, the team announced Saturday - - Cox lasted just two seasons as a player in the majors, with the New York Yankees in 1968-69, and finished with a modest .225 career batting average. .but it was as a manager that Cox would make his mark/embolden his legacy: **NOTE: Cox ranks fourth all time with 2,504 wins in 29 years as a manager, including 25 years in two stints with the Atlanta Braves and four (4) years with the Toronto Blue Jays, as he was named Manager of the Year four (4) times - and only Connie Mack, John McGraw & Tony La Russa had more regular-season wins than Cox - - The often-tempestuous skipper - he was ejected more times than any other manager in MLB history (158 times during the regular season; to put this in context, the MLB regular season is 162 games) - and he led the Braves to 14 straight division titles from 1991 to 2005 and the 1995 World Series title, their first since the franchise's relocation in 1966 - - As a GM, Cox helped build the team that enjoyed its long run of division titles, as Cox returned to the dugout as manager in 1990, and John Schuerholz moved to Atlanta as GM, forming a successful partnership with Cox - - Cox's most celebrated draft pick as GM was Chipper Jones, the No.1 selection in 1990, as Jones would go on to spend his entire career with the Braves, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018, joining Cox & former teammates Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine & John Smoltz - - The Braves retired Cox's No.6 following his final season in 2011, and he entered the HOF in 2014 alongside Maddux & Glavine - - Cox suffered a stroke in April 2019, but he eventually regained feeling on his right side following a short bout of paralysis, as well as his speech, and was able to return to the Braves' home park about five (5) months later. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the untimely passing of former Braves manager (& GM) and World Series champ Bobby Cox? Do you have any special memories of Bobby Cox as the manager of the Atlanta Braves?. .

- NBA - - Memphis Grizzlies forward and seven-year veteran, Brandon Clarke, 29, was found dead at a home in Los Angeles on Monday - - LAPD sources confirmed to ABC News that Clarke was found dead from a possible drug overdose Monday in a home located in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, as narcotics were found at the scene, and there was no evidence of foul play, sources reported to ABC News - - Clarke was drafted in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019 and was traded two weeks later to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he played his entire seven-year career - - Clarke was the No.21 overall pick out of Gonzaga, which dealt his rights to the Grizzlies, who already had drafted guard Ja Morant with the No.2 overall pick - as Clarke joined Morant on the NBA's All-Rookie team during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, averaging 12.1 points & 5.9 rebounds in 58 games while finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting - - Clarke served primarily as a valuable bench player early in his career and signed a four-year, $52 million extension with the Grizzlies in October 2022 - - He suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in March 2023 and appeared in only six (6) games the following season - - Injuries limited Clarke to 72 of a possible 246 games over the past three (3) seasons, including only two this season, as he averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds over his seven (7) seasons in Memphis - - Prior to this tragedy, Clarke was arrested April 1 in Arkansas for speeding and possession of a controlled substance that was reportedly kratom, an herbal supplement, promoted as an alternative pain remedy, that is set to become illegal in the state of Tennessee as of July 1 - he was released on bond a day later. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the untimely passing of Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke?. . .Jason Collins, 47, the NBA's first openly gay player who served as a global ambassador for the sport the past decade, has died of brain cancer, his family reported on Tuesday - - Collins revealed to ESPN in November 2025 that he had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer - - Collins traveled to Singapore this past winter to receive experimental treatments that, to date, have not been authorized for use in the United States - - Those treatments were reportedly effective, allowing him to return home, attend NBA All-Star Weekend in LA, and even attend a game at his alma mater, Stanford - but unfortunately, the cancer recently returned, and Collins died peacefully at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by his family - - As for his career, Collins retired from the NBA in 2014 after 13 years in the league that included stops with the New Jersey Nets, Memphis, Minnesota, Atlanta, Boston, Washington and a return to the Nets after they moved to Brooklyn - - **NOTE: Collins first announced that he was gay in a 2013 Sports Illustrated cover story, becoming the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of the four (4) main North American sports leagues. . .Q: What are your thoughts of the passing of former NBA player Jason Collins? What contributions do you attribute to Collins throughout his 13-year NBA career? . . .2025-26 NBA Playoffs Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review & recap each of the following semifinal round games from across the NBA over the previous week, and also discuss a few of the major storylines from the 2025-26 NBA Playoffs:

Game 4: No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.7 Philadelphia 76ers    [NY leads series 3-0]

Game 4: No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.4 Cleveland Cavalier     [DET leads series 2-1]

Game 4: No.2 San Antonio Spurs vs No.6 Minnesota T-Wolves [SA leads series 2-1]

Game 4: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.4 LA Lakers  [OKC leads series 3-0]

Game 5: No.2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No.6 Minnesota T-Wolves  [Series tied 2-2]

- NBA (cont'd) - - Daryl Morey is out at president of basketball operations with the Philadelphia 76ers, who are opting to retain Nick Nurse as their head coach - - Bob Myers, the president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, will reportedly lead the search for the new head executive for the 76ers and will oversee the franchise's basketball department in the interim - as Myers is the four-time NBA championship architect of the Golden State Warriors - and the incumbent staff will be evaluated by Myers and then the incoming top basketball official - - Morey had led the 76ers basketball operations for the past six (6) seasons, that included five (5) playoff berths and a 270-212 record throughout that span, however, the 76ers have not advanced beyond the second (or semifinal) round of the playoffs under Morey, and have not been to the conference finals since 2001 - - Morey's legacy in Philadelphia will be determined primarily by which moves you take into consideration, while analyzing the high highs and low lows of his tenure in the 'City of Brotherly Love; just to name a few: (a) Morey traded for James Harden - with whom he'd previously had success in Houston - ahead of the 2022 trade deadline - however, the reunion was short-lived as the 76ers declined to offer 'The Beard' a long-term maximum contract the following season, as Philadelphia agreed to search for a viable trade partner upon Harden's request after he agreed to pick up his $35.6 million player option that June - but unfortunately, the Sixers' asking price was too steep - and no teams were willing or able to meet it at first - - After Harden openly blasted Morey during a promotional tour in China, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on Halloween 2023, with Philadelphia landing LA's unprotected first-round pick in 2028 & swap rights in 2029 - as Philadelphia still owes Brooklyn a top-eight (8) "protected"" first-round pick in the 2027 NBA Draft from its original acquisition of Harden; (b) Morey also signed All-Stars Paul George & Joel Embiid to massive contracts, with George agreeing to a four-year, $212 million maximum deal in 2024, whereas Embiid agreed to a three-year, $192.9 million contract later that year - - Unfortunately for Morey, Philly's "big three" - George, Tyrese Maxey & Embiid have only played in a total of 43 games together over the past two seasons, including the playoffs, owning a 22-21 record; (c) Morey also dealt Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline this season, and the third-year guard is now an integral part of their rotation; (d) Morey selected guard VJ Edgecombe with the No.3 overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, as he finished third in Rookie of the Year voting this season behind Cooper Flagg & Kon Knueppel - - Nurse, meanwhile, is 116-130 in three (3) seasons, a record largely impacted by last year's 24-58 mark, however, Nurse has twice led the Sixers to the playoffs, including this season when Philadelphia overcame a 3-1 series deficit for the first time to defeat the Boston Celtics in the opening round prior to being swept by the New York Knicks in the semifinal round. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Philadelphia 76ers' decision to dismiss president of basketball operations Daryl Morey? Decision to retain HC Nick Nurse?. . .2026 NBA Draft Lottery: The Washington Wizards, who entered with a 14% chance at the No.1 selection, won the NBA draft lottery Sunday, earning them the first overall pick in June's NBA Draft - - **NOTE: The Wizards became the first team to win the lottery after finishing with the league's worst record (17-65) since the NBA revamped the lottery format in 2019 - - This represents the next step in a franchise transformation that saw the Wizards trade for All-Stars Trae Young & Anthony Davis earlier this year - - The Wizards previously won the lottery in 2001, when they selected big man Kwame Brown out of high school, and most recently in 2011, when they drafted PG John Wall from Kentucky, but now, 15 years later, Wizards' officials are hoping that the player the organization drafts first this year - whether it's A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson - will be even more impactful to D.C than Wall was - - The Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies & Chicago Bulls filled out the top four (4) picks, in that order - - "The Biggest Losers:" Based on the 2026 NBA Draft lottery, the Indiana Pacers entered Sunday with second-best odds to win the lottery (14%) and/or a 52.1% chance of landing a top four (4) selection, according to ESPN and IndyStar, however, the Pacers - who ended the NBA regular season with the league's second-worst record at 19-63 - fell in the lottery to fifth, but as a result of their trade deadline deal with the LA Clippers to acquire center Ivica Zubac - a deal that stipulated the Pacers would retain their pick only if it landed in the top four (4) - but what can only be summarized as "horrible luck," the Pacers must now convey the No.5 pick to the Clippers - - The 2026 draft class is considered by most analysts to be one of the deepest at the top in recent memory, as the Class' big four (4) are BYU wing AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke big man Cameron Boozer & North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson - - Lists of the next best prospects typically include a sleuth of talented guards, such as Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville), Brayden Burries (Arizona), Kingston Flemings (Houston) & Keaton Wagler (Illinois), as well as big man Aday Mara, who helped lead the Michigan Wolverines to a D-I national championship this season - - The final results of the 2026 NBA Draft lottery along with each team's lottery odds are included below:

1. Washington Wizards - 14% (winner)

2. Utah Jazz - 11.5%

3. Memphis Grizzlies - 9%

4. Chicago Bulls - 4.5%

5.Indiana --> LA Clippers - 14%

6. Brooklyn Nets - 14%

7. Sacramento Kings - 11.5%

8. New Orleans Pelicans --> Atlanta Hawks - 6.8%

9. Dallas Mavericks - 6.7%

10. Milwaukee Bucks - 3%

11. Golden State Warriors - 2%

12. LAC--> Oklahoma City Thunder - 1.5%

13. Miami Heat - 1%

14. Charlotte Hornets - 0.5%

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 134 - "The Quadruple-Double/Dream Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: "6-7, 6-7, 7-6?:" The men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments are expanding to 76 teams, the NCAA announced Thursday - - **NOTE: It is the first time the men's tournament has expanded since 2011, and the first time the women's tpurnament has expanded since 2022 (15 years and 4 years for men's & women's tournaments, respectively) - - The expansion from 68 teams to 76 teams marks the men's largest increase since it moved to 64 teams in 1985 - - It went from 64 to 65 in 2001 and then added three (3) more teams in 2011 to form the "First Four" - - With the increase to 76, the First Four (4) - doubleheaders on back-to-back days in Dayton (OH) - will be replaced by a 12-game Opening Round: The Tuesday and Wednesday of the men's tournament will feature 12 games played by 24 teams in two different cities, as there will now be three (3) games each day in Dayton and three (3) games each day in a second city to be determined, with sources telling ESPN's Pete Thamel that the second site is expected to be west of the Eastern time zone to help with logistics - - On the women's side, the 12 Opening Round games will be played on the Wednesday & Thursday between Selection Sunday and the beginning of the Round of 64 on Friday - and across 12 of the campus site designated as first- and second-round hosts - - Half of the 24 Opening Round teams will be the lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers, as the others will be the lowest-seeded "at-large" teams, while the traditional 64-team first round and ensuing rounds rounds will remain the same in both the men's and women's tournament. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NCAA's announcement that both the men's & women's NCAA basketball tournaments will expand to 76 teams beginning next season?. . .NCAA College Football: "Never Too Late:" A retired businessman enrolled in college for the first time - and joined the NCAA D-III football team as a freshman walk-on - after a dire cancer diagnosis reinvigorated his zeal for life: Tom Green, a 60-year-old Maryland native, stunned officials when he tried out for the football program during his freshman year at McDaniel College, located in Westminster, Maryland - - Now, he's slated to become one of the oldest college athletes in United States history, about a decade after beating cancer, as he is set to make his debut on the defensive line in the fall season: Green turns 61 years old in June, and if he plays through his 62nd birthday, he will, in fact, become the oldest person to ever play college football - - When he was first diagnosed with stage four (4) kidney cancer in 2015, Green said he was certifiably "dying," as his doctors informed him that he had eight (8) tumors festered in his body, stretching from one in his skull to another in the tail of his pancreas - and then, in what Green chalked up to divine intervention, he was declared cancer-free in 2018 - - While reapplying to college after being cleared of cancer, he decided to take his shot at joining the team - - Some players on the team, according to Green, thought his recruitment was a joke, but they eventually began to accept his presence as an inspiration: "I had to get used to it. At first, it was kind of weird, but I got used to it because he teaches us lifelong lessons that we can use off the field," teammate Jordan Weeden said - - Green was also blown away by the team's warm reception, though he admitted it only came about after they each tested him with rough blows during practice - - The sexagenarian knows his time on the turf is finite, but he hopes to leave his newfound brothers with memories that will carry them through the rest of their lives: "[Football] never leaves you. And the one thing that I always tell everybody is, the camaraderie of it all, you miss it. I've had employees, and I've had people work for me, and so on and so forth, but when you're playing ball, it's a lot different atmosphere. It's one of those things that I think the Lord has led me to and God's blessed me to do it," he added. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the resiliency of Mr. Tom Green? Thoughts on him becoming the oldest person to ever play the sport of college football?. . .

- NBA - - 2025-26 NBA Playoffs Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review & recap the following first-round & semifinal playoff games: **Be Sure to Tune in for a full recap of the first & second round playoff series listed below. . .

Game 6: No.4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No.5 Houston Rockets LAL leads series 3-2

Game 7: No.2 Boston Celtics vs. No.7 Philadelphia 76ers Series tied 3-3 (includes a discussion of "Embiid's Plea" & "Jaylen Brown's Twitch Rant". . .)

Game 7: No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.8 Orlando Magic Series tied 3-3

Game 7: No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No.5 Toronto Raptors Series tied 3-3

Game 1: No.2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No.6 Minnesota Timberwolves Series 0-0

Game 1: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.4 Los Angeles Lakers Series 0-0

Game 2: No.2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No.6 Minnesota Timberwolves MIN led series 1-0

Game 2: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.4 Los Angeles Lakers OKC led series 1-0

Game 1: No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.7 Philadelphia 76ers Series 0-0

Game 1: No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers Series 0-0

Game 2: No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.7 Philadelphia 76ers NYK led series 1-0

Game 2: No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers DET led series 1-0

- NBA - - "Magic [All Gone]:" Following their collapse & loss in Game 7 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs series against the Detroit Pistons, the Orlando Magic have dismissed HC Jamahl Mosley, per ESPN's Shams Charania on Monday morning - - Mosley, 47, spent the past five (5) seasons with Orlando, leading the team out of a rebuild and into the playoffs each of the past three (3) seasons - - They failed to advance past the first round in any of them after they lost in seven (7) games to the top-seeded Detroit Pistons this season, blowing a 3-1 series lead - - Mosley led the Magic to two division titles and three (3) consecutive winning seasons while dealing with a litany of injuries to key starters, particularly over the previous two years, as he finished his Orlando tenure with a 189-221 overall record. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Orlando Magic dismissing HC Jamahl Mosley following their epic collapse in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series?. . .

- MLB - - Ted Turner, the former owner of the Atlanta Braves and the NBA's Atlanta Hawks who made his mark as a media mogul & philanthropist, has died at the age of 87 - he passed away Wednesday at his home near Tallahassee, Florida, according to a family spokesman - - In September 2018, Turner revealed that he was battling Lewy body dementia, an ailment that causes a progressive decline in mental abilities with physical signs & symptoms similar to Parkinson's Disease - - Turner purchased the Braves in January 1976 following a 67-94 season by the club - - He helped open baseball's free agent price wars by signing pitcher Andy Messersmith shortly after buying the team and once managed the club for a day on May 11, 1977 - and he also led the team to a World Series victory in 1995 - - In addition to owning the Braves, Turner bought a majority stake in the Hawks in 1977, as he said at the time that he purchased the team to keep it from moving out of the Atlanta area: The Hawks made the playoffs 15 times during Turner's ownership, and the club retired a jersey in honor of him in 2004 - - Turner made his fortune in media, taking over the family business and renaming it Turner Communications Group in 1970, and he began his empire by purchasing two stations in Atlanta & Charlotte, North Carolina - - In 1976, he launched TBS to millions across America, as the station's signal was carried via satellite, and four (4) years later, he furthered his reach by creating the 24-hour cable news network, CNN, a move that transformed the news business - - TNT, created in 1988, increased Turner's footprint in the media landscape - - Time Warner assumed ownership of the Braves & Hawks in 1996 when Turner sold his business to the company for $7.3 billion in stock - - A year later, TBS became the owner of the NHL expansion Thrashers, who relocated & became the Winnipeg Jets in 2011, and in 1986, he created the Goodwill Games - - Later in life, Turner focused on philanthropy, pledging $1 billion to benefit the United Nations, and he was also committed to The Giving Pledge - - Turner married three (3) times, most famously to Jane Fonda from 1991 to 2001, and he is currently survived by five (5) children, 14 grandchildren & two great-grandchildren. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the untimely passing of former Atlanta Braves owner, Ted Turner, at the age of 87?. . .

- Miscellaneous - - 152nd Kentucky Derby: Golden Tempo charged from the back of the pack Saturday to make history for her - - Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Golden Tempo navigated past 17 horses around the final turn and made a hard charge down the stretch - - With a crowd of more than 100,000 watching & roaring at Churchill Downs, Golden Tempo passed morning-line favorite Renegade - ridden by Jose's brother Irad - just before the wire to win by a neck, as the winning time for the 1 1/4-mile race was 2:02:27 - - **NOTE: Trainer Cherie DeVaux made history, becoming the first woman to ever prep the winner of America's most famous horse race, and she joined Jena Antonucci, who trained Arcangelo in the 2023 Belmont, as the only women to train the winner of a Triple Crown race - - Golden Tempo entered with 23-1 odds, whereas the betting favorite, Renegade (5-1) and Ocelli (70-1) took second & third, respectively - - Golden Tempo, the son of two-time Horse of the Year, Curlin, had run well during show efforts in the Lousiana Derby and Risen Star Stakes but wasn't considered a serious contender in the Run of the Roses - - While she has the Kentucky Derby in her pocket, Cherie DeVaux would not commit to running Golden Tempo in the Preakness on May 16 in Baltimore, saying she would see how the horse responded before making a decision - - Prior to DeVaux's big win, the closest a female trainer had come to the winner's circle came in 1992 with the place showing of Casual Lies, prepped by Shelley Riley. . .Golf: If LIV Golf can't survive beyond this season without Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund's purse strings, two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau said Tuesday that he's prepared to grow his YouTube channel and play in tournaments that want him - - DeChambeau, 31, said he had some conversations with the PGA, and while he didn't get into specifics, he suggested that the PGA Tour is prepared to hit him with severe penalties if he wants to come back - - DeChambeau was one of this biggest stars to join the breakaway circuit in June 2022, and he was among 11 golfers who sued the PGA Tour later that year, alleging it used its monopoly power to unfairly suspend players who joined LIV Golf - - However, he withdrew from the federal lawsuit in May 2023 - - DeChambeau suggested that LIV Golf and the PGA Tour need to work together to reunify men's professional golf - as the PGA Tour seems to have the most leverage now, after the PIF announced last week that it will no longer fund the circuit with $30 million purses. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the possibility of Bryson DeChambeau's potential return to the PGA Tour if LIV Golf disbands?. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 133 - "The Hick from French Lick Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: The NCAA has initiated the final steps to expand the men's & women's college basketball tournaments to 76 teams, sources told ESPN Tuesday evening - - The expansion, which has been discussed for well over a year, is on track to be formalized in the upcoming weeks and would begin this coming season - - Sources indicated mid-May as a potential timeframe for an announcement, although there are still steps to take in terms of approvals via various NCAA committees - - Once the contracts are completed, the NCAA also would need approval from various committees, including the men's & women's basketball committees, the men's & women's basketball oversight committees, the Division I cabinet and the Division I board of governors - - The added finances would cover the additional logistics cost for both the men's & women's tournaments - - The primary driver of this expansion hasn't been money, but rather access for at-large bids for power conferences - the expansion has been pushed primarily by power conferences, which have grown throughout the course of the current deal - - The mechnics of the expansion in the men's tournament would include eight (8) additional at-large bids, and what's known now as the First Four, would include eight (8) teams playing four (4) games in Dayton, Ohio, would expand to 12 games played by 24 teams at two sites, one of which was expected to remain in Dayton, and the location of the new site has yet to be determined - - The expansion would lead to an additional eight (8) men's games, meaning the Tuesday & Wednesday of the NCAA Tournament would features 24 of the 76 men's teams, that number now includes eight (8) teams who would have qualified for the traditional bracket that would sqaure off against the eight (8) at-large additions - - The traditional 64-team men's bracket would still begin on Thursday and look much of the same, with the major difference being that more teams would qualify as traditional "at-large" bids, that would have to play earlier than the 64-team bracket. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NCAA initiating the final steps to expand the men's and women's basketball tournaments to 76 teams?. . .NCAA College Football: "A Sorsby Dilemma:"Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby will take an "immediate indefinite leave of absence" from the football program as he enters a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction, the school announced Monday, as the NCAA is investigating Sorsby's gambling, industry sources told The Athletic - - Sorsby, a fifth-year senior, transferred to Texas Tech in January as one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal after two seasons at Cincinnati - - Following the news, Texas Tech has said that it is committed to supporting Sorsby through his recovery process, but there is no announced timetable for Sorsby's treatment or his return to the Red Raiders - - Industry sources confirmed an ESPN report that Sorsby bet on Indiana football in 2022 while he was a redshirt freshman for the Hoosiers, as his gambling continued since then, according to sources, but the full extent is not yet clear - - Industry sources also informed The Athletic that Sorsby attended Cincinnati Reds' games on repeated occasions and placed live wagers on balls & strikes, with bets ranging anywhere from $2.50 to less than a $1 per pitch - and he placed a significant number of wagers in recent years - as the overwhelming majority were for smaller dollar amounts on various sports, including live bets on UFC matches, which is allowable under NCAA rules as long as the athlete is of legal betting age, primarily because the UFC is not a sport in which the NCAA hosts a sanctioned championship - - Sources who have reviewed the betting data told On3, dating back to 2022, he placed more than $20k wagers and at one point averaged 20 bets per day - - The NCAA is likely to permanently ban Sorsby, or for the QB to be deemed ineligible, pending their investigation - - According to updated NCAA sports betting guidelines passed in 2023, players who bet on games involving their own school face potential permanent loss of eligibility, which also applies if they engaged in activities to influence the outcome or knowingly provide insider information to people involved in sports betting, and also, last October, all three (3) NCAA divisions passed a rule change allowing players and staff to bet on pro sports, but the rule was rescinded a month later when more than two-thirds of Division I schools voted to rescind the change - - Sorsby only has one year of eligibility remaining, and so, if he returns to football but is ruled ineligible by the NCAA, he could choose to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft, which typically takes place in July or August - as former Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor was selected in the 2011 Supplemental Draft after facing suspension by the NCAA over the Ohio State tattoo/memorabilia scandal. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the news/story surrounding Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby? How do you anticipate this story playing out: will the NCAA allow him to return to Texas Tech for his final year of remaining eligibility? Or will he be deemed ineligible?. . .

- NFL - - New England Patriots HC Mike Vrabel and former sideline reporter Dianna Russini were "all over each other," at a secluded bar in New York City six (6) years ago before they were caught holding hands & hugging at an Arizona resort - as depicted in the exclusive new pics obtained by Page Six, the Patriots' coach and NFL reporter were spotted together inside the dimly lit Tribeca Tavern in the early hours of May 2020 - - They sat close to one another while conversing at the bar, and at one point, they appeared to share a kiss - - At the time the pictures were captured, Vrabel was working as the HC of the Tennessee Titans, while Russini was an NFL reporter at ESPN - - And just when you think this story couldn't get any stranger, some new information has come to light: Apparently, following a four-game skid back in 2022, when Vrabel was still the HC of the Titans, Russini made him a Spotify playlist titled "Turnin The Page," as the playlist was an attempt from Russini to help cheer up Vrabel in the midst of a tough stretch of football. . .Let's break it down, shall we?: We have Latto's "Big Energy" sandwiched between two Beyonce tracks, followed by the awful, bro-country anthem "House Party" by Sam Hunt, and a bunch of pop & electronic slip. . .Q: What are your thoughts surrounding the ongoing Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal?. . .The Minnesota Vikings traded Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles, the teams announced last Friday night - - In return, the Vikings received a third-round pick in 2026 (No.98 overall pick) and another third-rounder in 2027, as the Vikings also sent the No.244 pick in this year's draft to the Eagles - - Greenard, who turns 29 in May, had been seeking a new contract along with a pay raise, and he landed such a deal with the Eagles, signing a four-year, $100 million deal, according to a league source, with $50 million guaranteed - - While the Vikings didn't necessarily want to move Greenard, this outcome provided the team with extra draft capital and more financial flexibility, as well as a runaway for third-year edge rusher Dallas Turner to continue to develop & ascend in the league - - In the aftermath of this move, the Vikings are likely to use at least one of their remaining premium draft picks on the defensive line or the edge rusher position. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Philadelphia Eagles acquiring edge rusher Jonathan Greenard from the Vikings?. . .2026 NFL Draft Recap & Analysis: The 2026 NFL Draft wasn't short on excitement: QB Ty Simpson to the Rams midway through the first round? Big defensive additions for the Cowboys? A dynamic RB to the Cardinals? Two brothers going to the same secondary? Eight (8) trades on Day 1 and 41 across all three (3) days? - - That was fun!. .Now we take it all in and try to make sense of the picks: Which teams nailed their selections from start to finish, tackling needs, sticking to the board & actively getting better? Which teams found steals in some places but reached in others? And which teams made real head-scratching moves, missing big opportunities to get value or fill a hole on the roster? In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review and analyze some of the most notable picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, provide their individual input regarding some of the most buzzworthy picks across the league: The 2026 NFL Draft began last Thursday in Pittsburgh with the Las Vegas Raiders making former Indiana QB ___________________ the No.1 overall pick - - The New York Jets selected former Texas Tech EDGE ___________________ with the No.2 overall pick - - The Arizona Cardinals selected former Notre Dame RB _____________________ with the No.3 overall pick, while the Tennessee Titans selected former Ohio State WR __________________ with the No.4 pick - - The New York Giants selected former Ohio State LB __________________, while the Kansas City Chiefs completed the trade to move up for the No.6 overall pick, for which they used on former LSU CB _______________________ - - The Washington Commanders selected former Ohio State LB _________________, while the New Orleans Saints selected former Arizona State WR _________________ with the No.8 pick - - The Cleveland Browns completed a trade to move up in the draft, selecting former Utah OT ___________________ with the No.9 overall pick, while the New York Giants via a trade with Cincinnati, selected former Miami OT _____________________**Be Sure to Tune in for The T.F. Podcast: 2026 NFL Draft Review. . . .At No.13, the Los Angeleds Rams shocked analysts and social media alike, by selecting former Alabama WR _________________, whose accuracy, poise & ability to move outside of the pocket will fit perfectly in HC Sean McVay's offense - - **NOTE: Following the Rams' pick at No.13, the University of Alabama has 51 first-round draft picks since 2009, meanwhile, the Rams became the first team to have a QB win MVP then select a QB in the first round of the subsequent NFL Draft since the Packers in 1967 (i.e., Bart Storr won MVP in 1966, and Green Bay drafted Don Horn No.25 overall the following year). . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Los Angeles Rams drafting QB Ty Simposon with the No.13 overall pick?. . .Quite possibly the most intriguing pick of this year's draft was the Atlanta Falcons with the No.48 overall pick: The Falcons selected former Clemson CB Avieon Terrell, the brother of star CB A.J. Terrell, a former first-round pick for Atlanta - - Saturday's four (4) rounds of draft concluded with the Denver Broncos making Red Murdock with No.257 pick, aka Mr. Irrelevant. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Ram's Ty Simpson the No.13 overall pick in this year's draft? What are your thoughts on the Atlanta Falcons pairing CB Avieon Terrell alongside his brother & Falcons' CB1 A.J. Terrell? Which teams would you categorized as "winners" and/or "losers" of the 2026 NFL Draft?. . .

- NBA - - "Kia Most Improved Player:"Nickeil Alexander-Walker was named this season's Most Improved Player last Friday, marking the second straight Atlanta Hawks' player to win the award - - Alexander-Walker, the cousin of reigninig NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, averaged a career-high 20.8 points, 3.7 assists & 3.4 rebounds to go along with 1.3 steals per game - - He also averaged career highs in blocks, FG% and 3-point FG% - - The 6-foot-5 guard increased his scoring by 11.4 points and averaging 9.4 points coming off the bench for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2024-25 season, which is the third-highest increase from one season to the next over the past 25 years - - Alexander-Walker follows teammate Dyson Daniels, who won the award last season - - **NOTE: This is the first time in the award's history that two straight winners have come from the same team - - In his seventh season, Alexander-Walker thrived with the Hawks: he helped Atlanta remain a playoff team, and he scored in double figures in 76 games and made 251 3-pointers in 2025-26, a single-season franchise record and fourth most in the league this season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker being named the 2025-26 Kia's Most Improved Player?. . ."NBA ROY:" Teenage sensation Cooper Flagg was named NBA Rookie of the Year on Monday, narrowly defeating his former Duke roommate, Kon Knueppel for the honor - - Flagg edged Knueppel by 26 points in the voting by a panel of 100 media members: Flagg received 56 first-place votes, while Knueppel received 55 second-place votes & one third place - - **NOTE: The 19-year-old Flagg became the second-youngest player to win the way, behind only LeBron James, as the 26-point voting gap between Flagg & Knueppel, 20, is the second smallest between the top finishers in a rookie of the year race since the current voting format began in the 2002-03 campaign, according to the NBA: Only the race between Scottie Barnes (378 points) and Evan Mobley (363) in the 2021-22 season had a smaller gap - - Flagg, the No.1 pick in last year's draft, averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds & 4.5 assists per game for the Dallas Mavericks, joining Larry Bird, Michael Jordan & Luke Doncic as the only rookies to average at least 20 points, six (6) rebounds & four (4) assists in the 50 seasons since the NBA-ABA merger, and he led all rookies in scoring, ranked second among qualifiers in assists and third in rebounds - - Knueppel, the No.4 pick, averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds & 3.5 assists while shattering the rookie record for 3-pointers made with a league-leading 272, as he played a major role in a midseason turnaround for the Charlotte Hornets, who made a 25-win improvement from last season to finish 44-38 before being eliminated in the Eastern Conference play-in round, whereas Flagg's Mavericks finished 26-56 overall, and he joined Jordan as the only rookies in NBA history to lead their teams in scoring, rebounding, assists & steals - - Flagg was the only player in the NBA this season to lead his team in each of those categories - - Flagg, who turned 19 on Dec.21, had a historic season for a teenager: **NOTE: He became the youngest player in NBA history to have games of 35, 40, 45, and 50 points, as well as the youngest to have at least 10 assists. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Cooper Flagg edging out Kon Knueppel for the 2025-26 NBA ROY Award?. . .A "Guilty" Plea: Former NBA player & assistant coach Damon Jones became the first person to plead guilty Tuesday in a gambling sweep that led to the arrests of more than 30 people, including reputed mobster & other basketball figures, including former Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups - - During back-to-back hearings in Brooklyn federal court, Jones entered guilty pleas to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in what prosecutors say were sports betting & rigged poker game schemes - - He acknowledged that he conspired with others to defraud sports betting companies by using "insider information that I obtained as a result of my relationships as a former player" - - He said the goal of the sports betting conspiracy, which ran from December 2022 to March 2024 was to use his insider knowledge - which prosecutors say involved non-public information about injuries to NBA star - to make money from sportsbooks - - He also acknowledged that his actions violated the NBA's code of conduct and also the terms of service on sports betting websites - - During his second hearing, Jones admitted that he was paid to act as a "face card" at poker games in Miami and the Hamptons by using his NBA celebrity to "lure high-end bettors" to the table - - In the sports betting case, the sentencing guidelines call for a punishment of 21-27 months in prison, whereas in the poker games case, Jones would face 63-78 months in prison, but prosecutors agreed to subtract 15 months from the sentence in exchange for Jones pleading guilty, which would put his potential sentence at 48-63 months in prison if the judge follows the guidelines - - In additon to facing prison time, Jones also agreed to forfeit a totla of $73,000 in the two cases. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Damon Jones being the first defendant in the sports betting & rigged poker games cases plead guilty?. . .2025-26 NBA Playoffs Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review & recap the following first-round playoff series: **Be Sure to Tune in for a Full Recap of the first round playoff series. . .

No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.8 Orlando Magic

No.2 Boston Celtics vs. No.7 Philadelphia 76ers

No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.6 Atlanta Hawks

No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No.5 Toronto Raptors

No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.8 Phoneix Suns

No.2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No.7 Portland Trail Blazers

No.3 Denver Nuggets vs. No.6 Minnesota Timberwolves

No.4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No.5 Houston Rockets

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 132 - "The 1 + Magic Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

In Recognition of This Year's NFL Draft, and Using the Current Draft Order, This Week's Episode Features JD & Spencer - Two Longtime Sports' Fans (but NOT longtime ESPN Draft Analysts) - Who Construct an NFL Mock Draft by Predicting the First-Round Selections for Each of the Initial Thirty-Two (32) Picks Based on Individual/Franchise Team Need(s), Overall Positional Value & ESPN Draft Analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board Rankings. . .**Tune in to this Week's Episode to Hear Their Picks, and Be Sure to Share Your Draft Projections/Selections, and Thoughts of the Actual Picks from the First Round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday Evening, on X - @TraditionFinest or Send a Message to [email protected]. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 131 - "The 'Hundred & 31 Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: Longtime ESPN and HOF college basketball broadcaster, Dick Vitale (aka "Dickie V"), has been diagnosed with melanoma (cancer) in his lung & liver cavity, and will be starting immunotherapy soon, as this is the fifth time that he's had to deal with a cancer diagnosis - - Vitale, one of the preeminent faces of men's college basketball, has battled four (4) types of cancer over the past few years, and most recently underwent surgery in the summer of 2024 after a biopsy of a lymph node in his neck revealed cancer - - ESPN released a statement Monday on social media in which Vitale confirmed the diagnosis: "I've beaten melanoma. I've beaten lymphoma. I've beaten vocal cord cancer," Vitale, 86, said in a statement Monday. "I'm four-for-four and I'm fully confident I'm going to make it five-for-five." - - Following a nearly two-year break to deal with his health, Vitale returned to broadcasting in February of last year after he announced that he was cancer-free - and he just wrapped up his 46th year covering college basketball at ESPN - - Vitale joined ESPN during the 1979-80 season, shortly after ESPN's launch, and called the network's first major college basketball game on Dec. 5, 1979 - - He has gone on to call well over 1,000 games, and in September 2024, he was inducted into the Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame. . .Q: What are your thoughts on ESPN's announcement regarding Dick Vitale's fifth cancer diagnosis?. . ."Mass Exodus:" Despite being open for less than a week, literally thousands of players are looking for a new home in the NCAA transfer portal: While some will wait until the portal closes on April 21 to make a decision, others didn't require that much time to find the next stop of their college basketball journey - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss a few of the most notable player transfers that have occurred within opening week of the transfer portal, and we will also present our picks for the programs who may be categorized as one of the "biggest winners" and "biggest losers" of the NCAA transfer portal thus far:**Be Sure to Tune In for Each Player's Transfer Destination. . .

Kansas State transfer guard PJ Haggerty, one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball, has committed to __________________. . .This will be Haggerty's fifth college in five (5) seasons at the NCAA D-I level - - A 6'4'' guard, he has been a high-level scorer at across his time spent at Tulsa, Memphis & Kansas State after starting his career with six (6) games at TCU - - He averaged career highs in scoring (23.4) and assists (3.8) at Kansas State last season, when he was named an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection, whereas at Memphis in 2024-25, Haggerty posted 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds & 3.7 assists per game, when he was also named the American Conference Player of the Year & earned second-team All-America honors - - For his career, Haggerty is averaging 21.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. . .Q: What are your thoughts on PJ Haggerty's fifth program in the past five (5) years? Is it a good fit for the 6-4 guard? . . .

Cal transfer guard Justin Pippen has committed to ___________________, per his agents at WME Basketball last Friday afternoon. . .Pippen, a sophomore who is coming off a breakout season at Berkeley, averaged 14.2 points, 4.6 assists & 3.9 rebounds per game last season while at Cal - - Pippen is the son of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, his older brother is Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr., and he played his high school basketball at Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles (CA) - - He is expected to play a significant role at his new program, and as a combo guard, he will be expected to fill a role similar to the one Devin Royal played prior to his departure - - At Cal last season, Pippen led the team in assists and tied for second on the team in scoring average as the Bears reached the second round of the NIT Tournament. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Justin Pippen's new home? Is it a good fit for Pippen, the son of an NBA Hall of Famer? . . .

Kansas transfer center Flory Bidunga and Oregon transfer guard Jackson Shelstad have committed to ___________________, per multiple reports. . .Bidunga spent two seasons with the Jayhawks and averaged 13.3 points & 9.0 rebounds per game this season for Kansas - - According to 24/7Sports' portal rankings, Bidunga was the top player available in the NCAA transfer portal - - Shelstad, a 6'1'' guard & product of Oregon, spent three (3) seasons with Dana Altman & the Ducks, however, he saw limited time in just 12 games this season, due to a recurring injury - - In his final season in Eugene, Shelstad averaged 15.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game - - The joint commitment of Bidunga & Shelstad put this particular program in an early position for the country's best portal haul this offseason, as they simultaneously snagged two of the portal's top targets off the board, in a move that sent ripples through the entire college basketball landscape. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Flory Bidunga & Jackson Shelstad's joint commitment to this particular program? Following this move, would you consider HC Pat Kelsey & this program as one of the "biggest winners" of the transfer portal so far? . . .

Georgia transfer center Somto Cyril has committed to _________________________, per 247Sports on Sunday afternoon. . .A 6'11'' center originally from Nigeria, Cyril averaged 9.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in his second season at Georgia - - A tenacious defender & rim protector, Cyril was one of the top big man available in the transfer portal, and was ranked inside the top-20 in 247Sports' player transfer portal rankings. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Somto Cyril's new home? Is it a good fit for the 6'11'' Nigerian center?. . .

Georgia transfer guard Jeremiah Wilkinson, one of the best scorers in the NCAA transfer portal, committed to _______________________ on Tuesday evening, sources told ESPN. . .A 6'1'' guard, Wilkinson had a long list of suitors, including Kentucky, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State & LSU, and is a proven scorer at two power-conference programs - - He averaged 15.1 points at Cal his freshman season prior to transferring to the University of Georgia, where he elevated his play, and averaged 17.4 points last season as a sophomore - - He also improved his efficiency in Athens this past season, shooting 41% from the field and nearly 36% from beyond the arc, and most notably, he was capable of huge offensive performances, scoring at least 30 points on three (3) occasions. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Jeremiah Wilkinson's in-conference transfer? Is it necessarily a good fit for the 6'1'' guard? . . .

"The Biggest Winners:" Obviously, Louisville's pickup of Kansas transfer center Flory Bidunga & Oregon guard Jackson Shelstad, places them in the mix as one of the biggest winners of the NCAA transfer portal's opening week. . .in addition to Louisville, a couple of other winners from the portal are: ______________________ and __________________________. . ."The Biggest Losers" (NOT the game show): Clearly, there have been programs who have drastically improved their roster following the first week of the NCAA transfer portal being open, but other schools will look to retool their respective rosters after losing multiple players to the transfer portal - - and one such program is _________________________, as this particular program has lost four (4) players that were an integral part of their rotation last season - - Another such loser is ____________________________, as the program's HC is in "wait-and-see" mode because some of the program's biggest stay-or-go decisions from his team have not yet been made. . .Q: Which program(s) would you categorize as being the "biggest winners" and "biggest losers" of the NCAA transfer portal's opening week in college basketball?. . .

- NCAA College Football: Per an NCAA announcement on Tuesday, the University of Iowa's football program must vacate four (4) victories from the 2023 college football season for reportedly tampering with QB Cade McNamara before he entered the NCAA transfer portal - - The NCAA reported that Iowa HC Kirk Ferentz and assistant Jon Budmayr participated in 13 phone calls with McNamara, and sent two text messages prior to his entry into the portal in November 2022 - - McNamara left Michigan a few days later after his entry into the portal with a "do-not-contact" tag, and transferred to Iowa, after which point, both Ferentz and Budmayr were suspended for the 2024 season opener in a school-imposed penalty for the violations - - In his time with the Hawkeyes in 2023, McNamara went 4-1 as the starting QB before suffering a knee injury - - The NCAA ruled that McNamara was ineligible for those wins over Utah State, Iowa State, Western Michigan and Michigan State, which will now be vacated - - McNamara played for the Hawkeyes for one more year prior to transferring again to East Tennessee State (ETSU) for the 2025 college football season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NCAA Committee of Infractions' ruling that Iowa must vacate four (4) victories from the 2023 season due to tampering? . . .

- NFL - - "I-AutoBain:" Former Miami Hurricanes DE & 2026 NFL draft prospect, Rueben Bain Jr., was involved in an auto accident in 2024 in which a passenger later died because of the injuries sustained in the crash, according to a report published on Sunday - - Bain was entering his sophomore season at the University of Miami at the time of the accident - - Bain was cited for careless driving for the accident that occurred at about 4 a.m time in March 2024 on I-95 northbound in Miami - as the crash report alleges that Bain was driving a 2021 Land Rover SUV that had three (3) other passengers - fellow Hurricanes' football players Wesley Bissainthe & Nyjalik Kelly, along with a 22-year-old Georgia woman, Destiny Betts - - Per the report, Bain's vehicle rear-ended another car, veered into a concrete barrier, then ricocheted into another barrier before coming to rest on the shoulder of the highway, after which point, Betts, was rushed to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, and according to the outlet, the 22-year old was in a coma for nearly three (3) months before she succumb to her injuries in June 2024 - - Bain was cited at the time of the incident, but charges were dropped prior to Betts' death, and interestingly, no field sobriety tests were given at the scene of the accident, per the crash report - - Rueben Bain Jr. is currently ranked No.15 on ESPN's NFL Draft expert/analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest Big Board for this month's NFL Draft - - As a junior in 2025, Bain had a career season in helping push Miami to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, posting 9.5 sacks, 15.5 TFLs, and five (5) QB hurries and led the country in QB pressures - - Per the USA Today, at least some NFL franchises are aware of the auto accident involving the potential top-10 draft pick that led to a 22-year-old woman's coma and eventual death, and multiple league executives confirmed that they are aware of the crash report that indicated that the former Miami Hurricanes DE was behind the wheel of the fatal crash — One such executive, Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes, told reporters Monday that the organization had known about the incident "for a while," and furthermore confirmed: "So that really doesn't change anything from our standpoint.". . .Q: What are your thoughts on the 2024 auto/car accident involving former Miami Hurricanes DE Rueben Bain Jr.? Thoughts on the timing for which this particular report has re-circulated? While Detroit Lions GM acknowledged that he was aware of the accident and its' details, and furthermore clarified that, from the NFL franchise's perspective, it does not change the way in which they will assess and/or evaluate Bain leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, could this fatal crash negatively impact or influence his draft stock across the league?. . ."Russini's Resignation:" NFL sideline reporter Dianna Russini has officially resigned from The Athletic, less than a week after published photos of her & New England Patriots HC Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort prompted an internal investigation, at The New York Times-owned sports outlet - - The New York Post published the photos last week that depicted Russini and Vrabel at the Sedona hotel/resort, and said that they were taken before the NFL league meeting that began in Phoenix on March 29 - - After publication of the photos, Vrabel & Russini, who are both married to other people, released statements to The Post downplaying what the photos depict: Russini stated that the photos "don't represent the group of six (6) people who were hanging out that day," and Vrabel told the newspaper: "Those photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.". . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel situation? What was your immediate reaction to her resignation statement? . . .

- WNBA & NBA - - WNBA: 2026 WNBA Draft: Azzi Fudd was selected by the Dallas Wings with the No.1 overall pick of the 2026 WNBA Draft on Monday night, capping off a year-long ascent as NCAA champion to the top overall choice, and setting up a reunion with former UConn teammate & current girlfriend, Paige Bueckers - - **NOTE: The 5-11 guard, who led UConn to last year's national title and was named the NCAAW Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, is the seventh player from the program to be selected No.1 overall in the draft. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dallas Wings selecting former UConn guard Azzi Fudd with the No.1 pick in this year's draft, thus pairing her alongside Paige Bueckers? - - Fudd's selection comes at the onset of a reshaped draft landscape, with the WNBA's new collective bargaining agreement substantially escalating rookie salaries, as the top pick is set to earn about $500,000, which is a significant hike from previous seasons & more than six (6) times higher than what the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, Bueckers, received as the No.1 pick last year - - Other notable picks from the 2026 WNBA Draft included the following: (1) The Minnesota Lynx selected TCU guard Olivia Miles with the No.2 pick, after she returned for an additional year of college, transferred from Notre Dame & led the Horned Frogs to a second consecutive Elite Eight appearance; (2) UCLA stars Lauren Betts & Gabriela Jaquez were selected in the top five (5), a little over a week after leading the Bruins to their first NCAAW championship - their teammate, Kiki Rice, was selected No.6 overall by Toronto, the first pick of the expansion franchise - - **NOTE: UCLA broke UConn's record of four (4) players drafted in the first round, a mark the Huskies set in 2002, when Angela Dugalic went No.9 to Washington - teaming her again alongside Betts - and Gianna Kneepkens was selected by the Connecticut Sun with the last pick of the first round - - **NOTE 2.0: With Charlisse Leger-Walker's selection in the second round at No.18 by the Sun, the Bruins also broke a record shared by Tennessee (1997, 2008), Notre Dame (2019) & South Carolina (2023), who all had five (5) players drafted in total; (3) Prior to being trade to the Seattle Storm, the Golden State Valkyries selected LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson with the No.8 pick, while the Indiana Fever took South Carolina guard Raven Johnson with the No.10 pick. . .Q: While we may not follow the WNBA closely, and therefore, do not dive into very many topics covering the league, it seemed that the WNBA Draft would be a notable topic for us to briefly discuss, but what are your thoughts on this year's WNBA Draft? Any additional players selected that you would have preferred that we highlight? Which WNBA franchise(s) do you think will benefit the most following their selections in this year's draft? . . .A'ja Wilson, the WNBA's first four-time MVP, has reportedly signed a three-year, $5 million supermax contract to remain with the Las Vegas Aces, sources informed ESPN on Wednesday afternoon - - The deal, which is the largest in WNBA history to date, is fully guaranteed to Wilson: she is set to earn $1.4 million for the upcoming 2026-27 season under the league's new collective bargaining agreement, and the salary will increase over the next two years based on her receiving 20% of the team's salary cap, which will be aided by the league's new revenue-share model - - To date, Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell is the only other WNBA player that has signed a supermax contract, although Mitchell's deal is only for one season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on A'ja Wilson's $5 million supermax contract?. . .NBA: "The Doc' Has Left the Building:" Doc Rivers is out as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced on Monday afternoon - - The Bucks will pay Rivers his eight-figure salary for the 2026-27 season, sources reported to ESPN, and the franchise's front office & Rivers are discussing whether he will move to an advisory role in the organization - - Meanwhile, the Bucks will embark on their third coaching search in three (3) years - - This starts a summer of change for the Bucks after Rivers went 97-103 throughout his three (3) seasons in Milwaukee, with two first-round playoff exits, and missing the postseason and play-in tournament this season - - According to team sources, there was a season-long disconnect between Rivers and the players, including instances that reportedly annoyed the locker room - - Rivers took over as HC of the Bucks in late January 2024, replacing Adrian Griffin, who had gone 30-13 prior to being fired, after which point, Rivers guided the Bucks to a 17-19 mark to close out the 2023-24 regular season - - Rivers also dealt with multiple injuries to his top players in each of his three (3) seasons, as Damian Lillard & Giannis Antetokounmpo missed time in the 2024 and 2025 playoffs, and Antetokounmpo was healthy for just 36 games in 2025-26 - - Rivers was let go shortly after Milwaukee dropped to 32-50 with a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday - - Rivers, who was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and led the 2007-08 Boston Celtics to an NBA championship, ranks sixth all time among NBA coaches in career victories, but unfortunately, the Bucks snapped a streak of nine (9) consecutive postseason appearances this season, and they have not won a playoff series since 2022. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the departure of Doc Rivers as the HC of the Milwaukee Bucks? Was this the right move by Milwaukee's front office? How will this move affect a potential return to Milwaukee for All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo? . . .2026 NBA Playoffs: The 2026 NBA postseason is officially here, as the final week of the regular season ended on Sunday as all 30 teams were in action to cap the 82-game campaign - - Some top seeds sweetened an already dominant run, whereas a few of the bottom-dwelling teams completed their last-ditch efforts to tank for the May 10 draft lottery - - Now, there are 20 teams, set & seeded, to compete for a chance to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June, with the play-in tournament beginning on Tuesday, as four (4) teams from both Conference(s) would face off for the last two remaining spots in the NBA playoffs, versus the No.1 and No.2 seeds - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer each provide their individual pick(s) & prediction(s) for the Eastern & Western Conference first-round matchups of the NBA postseason: **Be Sure to Tune In for Their Picks!. . .

No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.8 TBD

No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No.5 Toronto Raptors

No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.6 Atlanta Hawks

No.2 Boston Celtics vs. No.7 TBD

No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.8 TBD

No.4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No.5 Houston Rockets ('Bron vs. KD)

No.3 Denver Nuggets vs. No.6 Minnesota Timberwolves

No.2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No.7 Portland Trail Blazers

- 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament: Eastern Conference: No.9 Charlotte Hornets vs. No.10 Miami Heat - - LaMelo Ball made a layup with 4.7 seconds left in OT, Miles Bridges blocked Daivon Mitchell's attempt at a game-winning layup at the buzzer, and the Charlotte Hornets beat Miami 127-126 in a wild start to the NBA's play-in games, eliminating the Heat from the playoffs Tuesday night - - Ball finished with 30 points & 10 assists and Bridges recorded 28 points & 9 rebounds as the Hornets won their first postseason home game in a decade - - Guard Coby White had 19 points, including a turnaround 3 with 10.8 seconds left in regulation to send the game to OT - - **NOTE: Ball became the fourth player with at least 30 points & 10 assists in a play-in game, joining Josh Giddey (OKC, 2023), Kyrie Irving (BKN, 2022) & Damian Lillard (POR, 2020) - - Meanwhile, Mitchell finished with 28 points and Andrew Wiggins added 27 for the Heat, who lost Bam Adebayo to a lower back injury when he was tripped by LaMelo Ball in the 2nd QTR - - Following their win in the play-in tournament, the Hornets will travel to face the loser of Wednesday's matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic on Friday night for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the red-hot Charlotte Hornets' impressive victory over the Miami Heat in Tuesday night's NBA Play-in Tournament game? . . .Western Conference: No.7 Phoenix Suns vs. No.8 Portland Trail Blazers - - Deni Avdija, a first-time NBA All-Star, followed a breakout regular-season with a fantastic all-around performance in Tuesday's NBA play-in tournament game, scoring 41 points to lead the Trail Blazers over the Phoenix Suns for a 114-110 win to clinch the No.7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs - - The Blazers are back in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2021 after clawing back from an 11-point deficit in the 4th QTR - - Following Portland's victory, the Trail Blazers will now face the No.2 San Antonio Spurs in the first round, whereas the Phoenix Suns will host the winner of Wednesday's L.A. Clippers - Golden State Warriors game on Friday - - Avdija, 25, had never played in the NBA's postseason until Tuesday, toiling for more than five (5) years on mediocre teams in Washington & Portland, but he certainly looked comfortable on the biggest stage, as he had the winning three-point play with 16.1 seconds remaining, scoring on a physical take to the rim while being fouled and then converting a FT - - **NOTE: Avdija became the fifth NBA player to score 40 or more points in a play-in game, joining Jayson Tatum for the Boston Celtics in 2021 (50), Coby White for the Chicago Bulls in 2024 (42), Anthony Davis for the Dallas Mavericks in 2025 (40), and Zion Williamson for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2024 (40). . .Q: What are your thoughts on Deni Avdija's spectacular performance in the Trail Blazers' victory on Tuesday night in the NBA play-in tournament? . . .

- Miscellaneous - - The 2026 Masters Tournament: It wasn't always pretty, but Irishman Rory McIlroy ran it back at Augusta National: McIlroy carded a 2-under 70 to give him the win at 13-under as he won the tournament for a second consecutive year, one stroke ahead of runner-up Scottie Scheffler - - **NOTE: With his victory, Rory becomes only the fourth PGA player to win the Masters Tournament in back-to-back seasons (i.e, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo & Tiger Woods), and the first to do so since Tiger Woods in 2002 - - McIlroy's victory is the sixth PGA major championship of his career, which ties him with Lee Trevino, Phil Mickelson, and Nick Faldo for the 12th-most all-time. . .but do not get it twisted, it was one hell of a week for the Masters defending champion: In the first two rounds, McIlroy seized the outright lead, carding a 67 and 65, respectively, to reach 132 (-12) for the tournament - - Beginning Friday tied for the lead, he recorded multiple birdies over his closing holes, including a chip-in on the 17th, and opened a six-stroke lead over the field, the largest 36-hole lead in Masters Tournament history - - The cut fell at 148 (+4) with 54 players advancing to the weekend, and among those who missed the cut, were Bryson DeChambeau, J.J. Spaun & Robert MacIntyre - - McIlroy began the third round with a six-shot advantage, but his lead subsequently vanished over Moving Day as he signed off for a 73 (+1), having played Amen Corner in 3-over par - - Entering the final round on Sunday, McIlroy immediately lost his share of the lead early in his round after a double bogey at the par-3 4th, where he pulled his tee shot and proceeded to 3-putt, falling behind the lead, however, he steadied himself & responded with consecutive birdies on 7 and 8 to move back within one shot of the lead heading into the turn - - On the 11th, Justin Rose bogeyed after missing the green with his approach, allowing McIlroy to draw level: McIlroy then regained the outright lead on the second nine (9), capitalizing on scoring opportunities and avoiding further mistakes - - McIlroy took a two-shot lead to the 18th tee over Scottie Scheffler, knowing a bogey would be enough, and while his drive found trouble in the right trees, he recovered into the greenside bunker to get up and down for a match-closing bogey to secure victory in regulation by a single stroke - - The 2026 Masters (it's 90th edition) began with 91 players vying for the coveted title of Masters champion and the green jacket that comes with it, and in the end, the man who entered Augusta National Golf Club as the reigning champion, left the course as the fourth back-to-back winner in tournament history - - McIlroy, 36, achieved what would have been impossible to believe just two years ago, winning his second straight Masters and the grand prizes that come along with it: most notably, of course, is the green jacket that will double up in his closet - - There is arguably no tournament where being a past champion carries so much weight, and while much of modern golf has become about escalating purses and the financial prize at the end, the Masters is one of the rare tournaments where that is truly a secondary motivation - - Although the green jacket is the ultimate prize, the 2026 Masters payout was pretty sweet, too, as the purse increased to $22.5 million with McIlroy taking home $4.5 million for his efforts, whereas each of the top four (4) on the final leaderboard earned over a million apiece - and perhaps most importantly, an invite back for the 2027 Masters Tournament. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the outcome of the 90th edition of the Masters Tournament? - - "An Irish Menu:" In keeping with tradition, defending champion Rory McIlroy chose the menu for the Masters Club Dinner, which took place on April 7th - - The dinner tradition, which began in 1952 when Ben Hogan invited past Masters champions to dine together, is attended by former champions as members of the Masters Club - - The appetizers included: bacon-wrapped dates with goat cheese; elk sliders with caramelized onion jam & garlic aioli; peach & ricotta flatbread; and rock shrimp tempura - - Yellowfin tuna carpaccio with foie gras, a toasted baguette, and chives were followed by a choice of either wagyu filet mignon or salmon, each served with champ, brussel sprouts, glazed carrots with brown butter, and Vidalia onion rings - - Dessert was sticky toffee pudding with sauce & ice cream - and finally, the wine selection included a 2015 Champagne Salon brut; a 2022 Domaine Leflaive Burgundy; a 1990 Chateau Lafit Rothschild Bordeaux; and a 1989 Chateau d'Yqueen Bordeaux. . .Q: If you were the returning defending champion of The Masters Tournament, what items would you choose for the menu?. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 130 - The "no-pitch" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA Women's College Basketball Final Four & National Championship Review: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review and recap the 2026 NCAAW College Basketball Tournament's Final Four as well as the National Championship game - - and discuss a few of the most noteworthy storylines across the sport - - The following NCAAW college basketball game(s) are discussed in greater detail in this segment: NCAA Women's Basketball Championship - Final Four: No.1 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. No.1 UConn Huskies - - Ta'Niya Latson scored 16 points and Agot Makeer added 14 points as South Carolina played stifling defense to stun UConn 62-48 last Friday night, ending the Huskies' 54-game winning streak, and advancing to the women's NCAA Tournament national championship game - - South Carolina (36-3) would be looking for its fourth national championship, as their other three (3) have come in the last decade under HC Dawn Staley, whereas UConn (38-1) entered the Women's Final Four undefeated for the ninth time in school history, and for the third straight time left without a national title - as the Huskies also lost in the 2017 and 2018 national semifinals - - **NOTE: The Huskies' 48 points were the fewest points UConn had scored since putting up 49 in a national championship game loss to Staley's Gamecocks in 2022 - - The Huskies and Gamecocks played last season (2025) for the national title and UConn came away with the 82-59 rout for the program's 12th national championship - and they also beat South Carolina handily during the 2024-25 regular season - - "Handshake Wars?:" In the final seconds of South Carolina's upset win over UConn, Huskies HC Geno Auriemma & Gamecocks HC Dawn Staley had a heated exchange, and traded words at midcourt and had to be separated, in what was not a very good look for Auriemma - - When asked by ESPN reporter Holly Rowe what instigated the exchange, Staley responded: "I have no idea. But I'll let you know this: I'm of integrity. I'm of integrity. So, if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn't shake his hand at the beginning of the game." - - ESPN's broadcast actually showed footage of Staley appearing to shake Auriemma's hand prior to tipoff, albeit brief - - When asked about the exchange postgame, Auriemma said it was customary for coaches to meet at half court prior to the game - as a separate clip from earlier in the broadcast showed Auriemma waiting for Staley at a different point before the game: "The protocol is, before the game, you meet at half court," Auriemma said. "The two coaches meet at half court and they shake hands. They announce it on the loudspeaker. I waited there for like three (3) minutes. I said what I said, and obviously she didn't like it. I just told the truth." - - Auriemma was not only fired up after the game, as during an interview with Holly Rowe on the sideline prior to the start of the 4th QTR, he ripped the game's officiating, declaring the free-throw disparity between the two sides as "ridiculous," and openly criticized the play of the Gamecocks after a UConn player's jersey was ripped - he also implied that Staley had used inappropriate language that was aimed at the officials, but was not punished for it - - On the following Saturday, UConn HC Geno Auriemma released a brief statement apologizing for the heated exchange: "There's no excuse for how I handled the end of the game versus South Carolina. It's unlike what I do and what our standard is here in Connecticut. I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don't want my actions to detract from that. I've had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them." - - While his apology seemed sincere, you can't help but notice that there is one particular name that is missing from Auriemma's statement: Dawn Staley! - - South Carolina HC Dawn Staley said Tuesday that she had spoken to Auriemma and suggested that everyone "turn the page" after their midcourt argument at the Final Four fueled a firestorm of controversy and could've shed a negative light on Auriemma's legacy. . .Q: What are your thoughts on South Carolina's dominant victory over UConn in the NCAA Women's Final Four last Friday night to end the Huskies' 54-game winning streak dating back to last season? Following his explanation at the postgame conference, what were your thoughts on Geno Auriemma's actions/outburst at midcourt? How much of it do you think was really related to Staley not following what he referred to as 'the protocol?' . . .NCAA Women's Basketball Championship - Final Four: No.1 Texas Longhorns vs. No.1 UCLA Bruins - - Center Lauren Betts finished the game with 16 points and made a huge block late, as UCLA withstood a last-ditch effort by Texas on Friday night for a 51-44 win to reach the NCAA Women's College Basketball National Championship Game for the first time in program history - - Manhandled by the eventual national champion, UConn, in their first Final Four appearance a year ago, the Bruins (36-1) dominated their way to another national semifinal with the best season in school history - - A chance at a first national title game appearance had to go through the only team to apply a blemish to their imperfect record this season: Overpowered in their first meeting, the Bruins turned the tables on Texas (35-4) in the national semifinal, shutting down All-American guard Madison Booker while building a 13-point lead midway through the 4th QTR - - Meanwhile, the Longhorns, who are one of the nation's best defensive teams this season, flexed their defensive prowess during a 12-2 run that cut UCLA's lead to 47-44, but Lauren Betts came in clutch, swatting the Texas' run to halt, as she blocked Booker's shot with 20 seconds left, as well as Kiki Rice's two clutch FTs, which sent HC Cori Close's crew into the title game - - The grinding win earned the Bruins a spot in the following Sunday's national title game against fellow No.1 seed South Carolina, the three-time champs, who ended reigning champion UConn's undefeated season and left Huskies' coach Geno Auriemma fuming - as so was Texas guard Madison Booker after a brutal finish to what was otherwise a stellar season, as she hit her first shot of the game, but missed her next 17 & finished with six (6) points on 3-of-23 (13%) shooting. . .Q: What are your thoughts on UCLA's impressive win over the SEC Conference champions, Texas Longhorns, on Friday night to advance to the NCAA Women's national title game? Thoughts on guard Madison Booker's poor shooting performance?. . .NCAA Women's Basketball Championship - National Championship Game: No.1 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. No.1 UCLA Bruins - - This one was for Cori Close and Lauren Betts and all the current players wearing UCLA on their jerseys, but it was also for Ann Meyers Drysdale & Denise Curry and John Wooden, and every Bruin who poured effort into what would become the first NCAA championship in UCLA women's basketball history: The senior-laden Bruins beat South Carolina 79-51 on Sunday in the national title game, and they did it the same way they had won all season - with a dominating inside presence, an unselfish offensive approach & a suffocating defense - that handed Dawn Staley & the Gamecocks their second-worst loss in NCAA tournament history - - **NOTE: The 28-point margin of victory was the third largest in a Division I women's championship final game - - UCLA never trailed, opening a double-digit lead at the end of the 1st QTR en route to its 31st straight win to make program history, as star center Lauren Betts was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player after the game - - In her 15th season at the helm, Bruins HC Cori Close pulled off what many didn't believe was possible at one of most storied basketball programs in the country, as UCLA last won a national title in women's college basketball in 1978 in the AIAW, when Meyers Drysdale & Denise Curry led the way - whereas John Wooden won 10 titles as the HC of the men's college basketball program, and set a standard that other coaches on the Los Angeles campus wanted to follow - - In this one-sided affair, five (5) UCLA players finished the game in double figures, as Betts finished with 14 points & 11 rebounds, but UCLA senior Gabriela Jaquez - the younger sister of former Bruin and now Miami Heat basketball player Jamie Jaquez - who was perhaps the most impactful player in this game, as she not only found open shots but also fed her teammates & got inside the paint to grab one rebound after another - finished with a fantastic stat line of 21 points, 10 rebounds and five (5) assists in a performance that will not soon be forgotten - - South Carolina, meanwhile in the first half, shot 9-of-35, as forward Joyce Edwards was 1-of-6 from the field with two points - as it was the Gamecocks' worst FG percentage in any half of any game since December 2022, when they shot 26% in the first half against South Dakota State - - The Gamecocks ended this game shooting 29% from the field, as their three (3) best players - Edwards, Ta'Niya Latson & Raven Johnson - finished the game with a combined 15 points on 5-of-22 shooting - - **NOTE: South Carolina became the first team to lose consecutive national championship game appearances by at least 15 points each. . .Q: What are your thoughts on UCLA's first women's basketball national championship in program history? Was this South Carolina group somewhat distracted by the noise/controversy surrounding the on-the-court drama between their HC Dawn Staley and UConn HC Geno Auriemma? Or was it just the Bruins' night?. . .NCAA Men's College Basketball: "[Note 2] SELF:" Kansas men's head basketball coach Bill Self is set to return to the sideline for the Jayhawks for the 2026-27 college basketball season, he announced last Wednesday - - Self released a statement indicating that he remains "focused and committed to Kansas," and "competing for a national championship." - - His announcement comes more than a week after Self indicated that he would discuss his coaching future with his immediate family after dealing with multiple health-related issues in recent years, as the decision came with "renewed clarity and the ongoing support from our administration," Self said in his statement - - Self's announcement certainly sent a collective exhale around Lawrence, where the Hall of Fame coach has won two national championships, and reached four (4) Final Fours since arriving in 2003 - - His return is significant for the sport, as he's one of the country's most noted coaches, as he is responsible for 855 wins across a 33-year coaching career spanning Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois & Kansas - - Self, 63, spent significant time this week discussing his health & future with people close to him before arriving at the decision to return next season - - Self's decision to return comes just days before college basketball programs are getting ready to set their rosters for the 2026-27 season, as the NCAA transfer portal officially opened on Tuesday, the day after the men's national championship game. . Q: What are your thoughts on Bill Self's announcement and/or decision to return to Lawrence for the 2026-27 college basketball season?. . ."UNC Malone:" North Carolina's search for its' next head coach has landed in an unexpected place, as the Tar Heels hired longtime NBA HC Michael Malone as the school's next head basketball coach, sources informed ESPN - - Malone is an NBA champion from his time spent with the Denver Nuggets, and won 510 games in 12 seasons as a head coach, as he is one of the most respected tacticians in the NBA, and has spent the past 10+ months as an ESPN analyst - - Malone will inherit a Tar Heels team that has been seeking a head coaching replacement for nearly two weeks following the firing of Hubert Davis - - With college basketball becoming more like professional basketball every year, UNC gets a respected X's-and-O's coach who worked in the NBA for nearly a quarter century as a head coach and assistant, as he was at the helm for the Denver Nuggets for 10 years, going 471-327 in that span, as he has coached a total of 904 games as an NBA HC, including two seasons with the Sacramento Kings - - **UPDATE: Malone is set for a yearly average of more than $8.3 million across a six-year contract, sources confirmed to ESPN's Pete Thamel on Tuesday evening, which places him among the top five (5) highest-paid coaches in D-I college basketball - - UNC had previously been linked to multiple high-profile college coaches, including Michigan's Dusty May, Arizona's Tommy Lloyd, and Iowa State's T.J. Otzelberger, but after all three (3) publicly committed & signed contract extensions to remain at their current school, the Tar Heels turned to Malone, who led the Nuggets to their only NBA championship in 2023, prior to being fired in Denver last April, and after which point, he joined ESPN as an NBA analyst a month afterwards, whereas his predecessor, Hubert Davis, was fired by UNC on March 24, just five (5) days after the Tar Heels squandered a 19-point lead in their first-round NCAA tournament loss to No.11 seed VCU - as it marked the second consecutive season that UNC lost its NCAA Tournament opener under Davis, who went 125-54 in five (5) seasons coaching his alma mater. . .Q: What are your thoughts on North Carolina's hire of former and longtime NBA head coach Michael Malone as the Tar Heels' next head basketball coach?. . .2025-26 College Basketball Season Awards: The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Sunday that Duke's Cameron Boozer has won the 2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy, honoring the freshman as the most outstanding men's college basketball player, as Boozer won the award over finalists Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), and Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan) - - Boozer led Duke in scoring, rebounding, and assists, while averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 55.6% from the field - - **NOTE: Cameron Boozer becomes the 10th Duke player to win a Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy, which is the most by any program since the award was first presented in 1969 - - Past Blue Devil winners include Cooper Flagg (2025), Zion Williamson (2019), JJ Redick (2006), Jason Williams (2002), Shane Battier (2001), Elton Brand (1999), Christian Laettner (1992), Danny Ferry (1989), and Johnny Dawkins (1986) - - It is also the 14th men's basketball award for Duke, as former head coach Mike Krzyzewski (aka "Coach K") was named Coach of the Year in 1989, 1992, and 1999, while being honored as the 2025 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Men's Basketball Award winner - - Boozer becomes just the fifth freshman to win the award, and is the third Duke freshman to win, following Flagg & Williamson, with the other freshman that won the trophy being Anthony Davis (Kentucky, 2012) & Kevin Durant (Texas, 2007). . .Q: What are your thoughts on Duke's Cameron Boozer being awarded the 2026 AP Player of the Year?. . .Arizona HC Tommy Lloyd was named the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's Coach of the Year, while Florida's Rueben Chinyelu earned the 2026 Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year Award Presented by Molecule - - Lloyd becomes the first men's or women's coach or player from the University of Arizona to win a season-based Naismith Award - - **NOTE: This is the fifth time in the Award's 40-year history that the winner has come from the Big 12 Conference, but the first time that the coach has not been from the state of Kansas, as previous conference winners include Jerome Tang (Kansas State, 2023), while the other three (3) are from the University of Kansas: Bill Self (2012), Roy Williams (1997), and Larry Brown(1988) - - The remaining 2026 finalists for the award were Nebraska's Fred Hoiberg, Michigan's Dusty May, and Duke's Jon Scheyer. . Q: What are your thoughts on Arizona's Tommy Lloyd being awarded the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's Coach of the Year?. . .Center Rueben Chinyelu became the first player or coach from the University of Florida to win a Naismith Award, as the other finalists for the DPOY award included Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Zuby Ejiofor (St. John's), and Joseph Tugler (Houston), who was also a finalist in 2025 - - As one of the top rebounders & rim protectors in men's college basketball, Chinyelu helped the Gators become one of the top defensive teams in the nation - - **NOTE: He is the second player in the nine-year history of the award to win from an SEC school, following Auburn's Walker Kessler in 2022. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Florida's Rueben Chinyelu being awarded the 2026 Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year trophy?. . .NCAA Men's College Basketball Final Four & National Championship Review: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review and recap the 2026 NCAAM College Basketball Tournament's Final Four as well as the National Championship game - - and discuss a few of the most noteworthy storylines across the sport - - The following NCAAM college basketball game(s) are discussed in greater detail in this segment: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - Final Four: No.2 UConn Huskies vs. No.3 Illinois Fighting Illini - - Fabolous freshman Braylon Mullins made another last-minute 3-pointer - his only basket of the second half - and Dan Hurley's Huskies muscled their way past Illinois 71-62 on Saturday to reach their third national championship game in four (4) years - - Center Tarris Reed Jr. finished the game with 17 points & 11 rebounds while Mullins finished with 15 points for the Huskies (34-5) who rode their strong inside play and tough defense to their 19th straight victory in the Sweet Sixteen or later rounds of the NCAA Tournament - - Now, UConn would await the winner of the other Final Four matchup between No.1 Michigan and No.1 Arizona with a chance to win their seventh national title, all since 1999, as Hurley would attempt to become the only active HC with more than two championships - - After eliminating the NCAA Tournament's No.1 overall seed, Duke Blue Devils, with a 35-foot 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining, Mullins was equally as effective in the Final Four matchup against Illinois, as after Silas Demary Jr. secured an offensive rebound, he hit a catch-and-shoot 3 with 52 seconds left that gave UConn a 66-59 lead, and thwarted Illinois' late push - - UConn needed the outstanding play of Mullins on a night in which star forward Alex Karaban struggled with this shot, as he finished the game with nine (9) points on 1-of-8 shooting, while adding four (4) rebounds & four (4) assists, as he tied Hurley's brother, Bobby, for No.2 in career March Madness victories by a player with 18 - - With one more victory, UConn would've broke a tie with North Carolina & move into third place alone in national titles, trailing only UCLA (11) & Kentucky (8) - - Meanwhile, freshman guard Keaton Wagler recorded 20 points & eight (8) rebounds to lead the Fighting Illini (28-9), who reached their first Final Four since losing in the championship game to UNC in 2005 - - **NOTE: Illinois' Wagler & UConn's Mullins became the first pair of freshmen to top 15 points in a Men's Final Four game since Michael Jordan (UNC) and Patrick Ewing (Georgetown) in 1982 - - Center Tomislav Ivisic finished with 16 points and seven (7) rebounds for the Illini, who couldn't replicate the blueprint that carried them to double-digit victories over Penn, VCU, Houston and Iowa - as Illinois made just 3 of 14 3-pointers in the first half & finished 6 of 26 from beyond the arc - - UConn took full advantage even though the Huskies struggled with their shot, as they had two long scoring droughts, that took up nearly six (6) minutes in the first half and more than six (6) minutes in the second - The latter of which allowed Illinois to charge back from its biggest deficit of the season, 57-43 with 9:43 left to play, to pull within 57-53 with 5:03 remaining - but the Huskies answered & closed it out at the free-throw line for their fifth straight win in the series, as UConn beat Illinois 74-61 on Nov. 28 in Madison Square Garden - and now the Huskies have held the Illini to their two lowest scoring totals & shooting percentages of the season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on UConn's performance & impressive win over Brad Underwood and the Fighting Illini?. . .NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - Final Four: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.1 Arizona Wildcats - - Game of the Year?. . .This wasn't even the game of the night! - - Michigan overpowered early & humbled the 'Cats for 40 long minutes Saturday, turning their highly anticipated Final Four matchup into a 91-73 Wolverines dunkfest-slash-highlight reel, as junior center Aday Mara scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed nine (9) rebounds - - About the only question in this one concerned the health of Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg, a first-team All-American, who landed on an Arizona player's foot, rolled his ankle and sprained his knee, but still recorded 11 points over 14 minutes - - This one was over in about the first five (5) minutes: **NOTE: The Blue blew threw their fifth straight March Madness opponent by double digits while becoming the first team to break 90 points five (5) times in a single tournament - - It was all quite a shock, considering Michigan and Arizona came in with the nation's top two defenses, a pair of top-five offenses and somewhere between eight (8) & a dozen NBA stars between them. . .but it was the Wolverines (36-3) who looked like pros, running to a double-digit lead only 5:31 into the contest, then swatting & slamming Arizona into oblivion, as the game plan against the Big 12 champion Wildcats (36-3) couldn't have worked any better: Michigan packed the paint on defense, basically giving the team that averaged the fifth-fewest 3-point attempts in the country this year free rein from long distance, then daring Arizona to create inside. . .and the Wildcats failed at both! - - Forward Koa Peat was quiet, finishing the game with 16 points & 11 rebounds, for Arizona, which shot 6 for 17 from 3, 36% overall and had two assists & nine (9) turnovers over a first half that ended with them trailing 48-32 - - Sparkplug guard Jaden Bradley picked up his fourth foul 94 seconds into the second half & finished with 13 points, most of which came in extended garbage time - - Arizona's only two losses before this were by four (4) and three (3) points back in February, as the Wildcats trailed by nine (9) less than 2:30 into this one - - Making it all the more impressive for Michigan was that it started this runaway without Lendeborg, who committed two fouls within five (5) seconds of each other less than 90 seconds into the game, however, he did return in the second half and recorded two quick 3s, to push Michigan's lead past 20, but he returned to the bench - and stationary bike - for good with 5:19 left, enough time to rest to get ready for UConn, which was going for its third title in four (4) seasons, while Michigan was vying for only the program's second championship (1989) - - Freshman Trey McKenney made four (4) 3s and had 16 points for the Wolverines, whereas guard Elliot Cadeau overcame a bout with his nut allergy to compile a crazy stat line: 13 points, 10 assists, six (6) turnovers, five (5) rebounds & four (4) steals on 5-for-17 shooting - even with that, Michigan finished 47.8% from the floor and 12 for 27 from 3. . .Q: How shocked were you that Michigan was able to dominate the Arizona Wildcats in this highly anticipated matchup of No.1 seeds?. . .NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - National Championship Game: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.2 UConn Huskies - - From the point that Michigan defeated Gonzaga by 40 points in the title game of the Player's Era Championship back in November, they were the most dominant team in the country, and they ended Monday night the same way they looked on Thanksgiving Eve of last year: as the best team in college basketball: Michigan (37-3) put an exclamation point on a historic season in Monday's national championship game, defeating UConn 69-63, as guard Elliot Cadeau was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player after finishing with 19 points - as Michigan pulled away on free throws, making 25 its 28 attempts at the line - - The opening half was a grind, as Michigan struggled to find its rhythm early, opening 0-for-8 from 3-point range, while UConn's interior defense controlled the paint - - Despite shooting 5-for-15 from deep, the Huskies made their presence felt at the rim, altering shots & limiting second-chance looks, however, injuries played a pivotal role throughout this game, and while PG Solo Ball was dealing with an ankle injury, he provided the Huskies a spark with three (3) 3-pointers and 11 points for the game - Meanwhile, forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who was dealing with an MCL and ankle injury, struggled to find the bottom of the net, finishing 4 of 13 from the field - - While Michigan wasn't as dominant as it had been early on in the NCAA Tournament, it's strength all season - size, length & more size - were the difference-makers again on Monday night, as the Wolverines finally broke through from deep in the second half, when Cadeau knocked down the team's first 3-pointer after an 0-for-11 start, the moment that helped fuel a surge, pushing the Wolverines to their largest lead of the game at 11 points. .but UConn refused to go away without a fight: The Huskies cut the deficit to four (4) with under eight (8) minutes to play, but it was quickly erased by a momentum-shifting dunk by C Aday Mara, that brought their bench to life and tightened the game down the stretch - - While Michigan went on a 6-0 run, UConn suffered a two-minute scoring drought with fewer than six (6) minutes to go - - The Huskies did, however, manage to get within four (4) with just 37 seconds remaining after Solo Ball hit a 3-pointer off the backboard, making it 67-63 - - Though Roddy Gayle Jr. then missed a pair of FTs, UConn forward Alex Karaban couldn't hit a 3-point shot to cut the deficit to one - as Karaban did lead the Huskies (34-6) with 17 points & was one of three (3) UConn players with three (3) 3-pointers - however, the teams combined to shoot just 11 of 48 from deep, including Michigan's 2 of 15 - - In the end, Michigan ended both its long wait for a national title - the program's first championship since 1989 - and also the Big Ten's, giving the conference it's first men's basketball title since its "little brother" Michigan State won it all in 2000. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Michigan's dominance throughout this year's NCAA Tournament? What are your biggest takeaways from the national title game? The 2025-26 regular season?. . .

- NBA - - "OKC x 3:" The Oklahoma City Thunder joined some exclusive company on Wednesday night by accomplishing one goal on their checklist while defending their championship: The Thunder clinched the NBA's best record and top seed with Wednesday night's 128-110 road win over the L.A. Clippers - - **NOTE: It's the third straight season Oklahoma City earned the Western Conference's No.1 seed, as the Thunder became only the sixth team with a three-season streak as a top playoff seed since the NBA went to a 16-team playoff format in 1983-84, according to ESPN Research - The other five (5) teams include the following: (1) the 1984-88 Boston Celtics, (2) the 1984-90 Los Angeles Lakers, (3) the 1996-98 Chicago Bulls, (4) the 2008-10 Lakers and the (5) 2015-17 Golden State Warriors - all of which won multiple NBA championships in that span - - The Thunder, who have combined for 132 regular-season wins in the past two seasons, are attempting to become only the fifth team in NBA history to have the league's best overall record and win the championship in back-to-back seasons, as the feat was last accomplished by the Michael Jordan-led Bulls in 1995-96 and 1996-97. . .Q: What are your thoughts on OKC's dominance in the NBA over the past three (3) seasons? Do you think that the Thunder will repeat at champions this year?. . .

- NFL - - The Las Vegas Raiders agreed to terms with Kirk Cousins last Thursday afternoon, just two days after new HC Klint Kubiak expressed that he wanted to add another veteran QB to the roster - - Thursday's deal comes less than a month after Cousins was released by the Atlanta Falcons, who parted ways with the QB two years after signing him to a four-year, $180 million contract - - The Falcons will reportedly pay Cousins $8.7 million in 2026 while the Raiders will pay another $1.3 million, per ESPN's Adam Schefter - Las Vegas has also agreed to pay Cousins a fully guaranteed $10 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2027 new league year - - Cousins' agent announced the deal, which will pay the four-time Pro Bowler $20 million in guaranteed money in 2026 - - **NOTE: It will mark the 11th consecutive season that Kirk Cousins' contract will be fully guaranteed - - The deal also includes a club option for two years at $80 million and could be worth up to $172 million over five (5) years, although only the $20 million this year is fully guaranteed - - Cousins, 37, will join a Raiders squad that is widely expected to select former Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the No.1 overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft later this month - - Kubiak and GM John Spytek, who were among those in attendance last Wednesday to scout Mendoza at Indiana's Pro Day, have said on multiple occasions that they would prefer to not start a young, inexperienced QB right away this season - - Prior to adding Cousins, Aidan O'Connell was the sole QB on Las Vegas' roster after the team traded Geno Smith to the New York Jets last month, as the move reunites Cousins with Kubiak, who was the QBs coach and OC for three (3) seasons for the Minnesota Vikings - - As fourth-round pick by Washington in the 2012 draft, Cousins has passed for over 44,000 yards with 298 TDs and 131 INTs in 14 seasons. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Las Vegas Raiders' acquisition of veteran QB Kirk Cousins? If they do, in fact, draft QB Fernando Mendoza with the No.1 overall pick, do you expect Kirk Cousins to be the Raiders QB for the season opener?. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 129 - "The comeBACK Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: "NCAA's Appeal Denied:" The Mississippi Supreme Court denied the NCAA's petition to overturn a judge's decision that would allow Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss to play next season - - Initially, the NCAA denied Chambliss' waiver request on Jan. 9, and after Chambliss appealed, the organization's Athletics Eligibility Subcommittee upheld the denial on Feb 4. - - On Feb. 12, Judge Robert Whitwell, the presiding judge, said that he agreed with Chambliss' argument that the player's medical history was not properly considered by the NCAA - - The 23-year-old Chambliss has been in college for five (5) years, but was healthy enough to play just three (3) of those years - - Afterwards, Judge Whitwell advocated for the Ole Miss QB, stating that Chambliss would have received "irreparable harm" had the NCAA's ruling been upheld, and he further elaborated that the organization would not be damaged by allowing to play - - Chambliss and Ole Miss Athletics Department submitted nearly 91 pages to the NCAA to document how medical issues prevented him from playing two years, the judge said - - The NCAA, according to the judge, did not properly take those [medical] records into consideration, and denied the waiver's request "on pure semantics," - - Prior to transferring to Ole Miss, Chambliss began his college football career at Ferris State University, a Division II program, where he would lead the Bulldogs to a NCAA D-II national championship - - Last season, in Oxford, Chambliss completed 294 of 445 passes (66.1%) for 3,937 yards with 22 TDs and three (3) INTs for the Rebels (13-2), which set a school record for wins, including two after making the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, while also rushing for 527 yards and eight (8) TDs on the ground. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Mississippi Supreme Court's decision to deny the NCAA's appeal to overturn a judge's decision regarding Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss' eligibility in 2026-27?. . .Recently retired coach, Gus Malzahn, who won a national title in 2010 as Auburn's OC, will join former Cal coach Jeff Tedford on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee this spring, the CFP announced on Monday - - University of Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek will return as the Committee chairman for a second consecutive season, and Louisiana AD Bryan Maggard will also join the group - - The three (3) new committee members will each serve three-year terms & replace outgoing members Chris Ault (a former HC), Jeff Long (a former longtime collegiate administrator), and Miami (Ohio) AD David Sayler, whose terms have expired - - Malzahn, who had a 35-year coaching career and developed a reputation for his up-tempo offensive philosophy, announced his retirement in February after serving as the OC under Mike Norvell at Florida State University - - He spent 13 years as head football coach at Arkansas State (2012), Auburn (2013-2020) and UCF (2021-2024), where he posted a career record of 105-62 - - As for Jeff Tedford, he served as the head football coach at Cal University (2002-2012) and Fresno State (2017-2019 and 2022-2023), compiling a career record of 127-79 - - At Cal, Tedford engineered one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history, leading a team that had won just one game to consistent bowl appearances, national rankings as well as a share of the 2006 PAC-12 Conference title - - He remains the Golden Bears' winningest coach with an 82-57 record, while guiding the team to eight (8) bowl games - - Malzahn & Tedford will join former coaches Mark Dantonio (Michigan State) and Mike Riley (Oregon State/Nebraska). . .Q: What are your thoughts on the news that former head football coaches Gus Malzahn & Jeff Tedford will be joining the CFP Selection Committee this spring? How does Gus Malzahn's addition impact Kalen DeBoer & the Alabama Crimson Tide come postseason/CFP time next spring? . . .NCAA College Basketball: "Wade Just One Damn Minute:" Just one year after signing a six-year deal to become the head basketball coach at NC State University, Will Wade made the decision on Thursday to make a jump back to LSU, where he previously coached from 2017 until 2022, while NC State was left to pick up the pieces, and like many Wolfpack fans, NC State AD Boo Corrigan was not pleased by the sudden move, stating "I'd commiserate with [fans], in terms of feeling lied to," - - After leading the Wolfpack to a 20-12 record this season, Wade has now inked a seven-year deal to become the head basketball coach at LSU - - Out of the ACC Conference, NC State got off to an 18-6 start (9-2 in conference play) prior to losing six (6) of its final seven (7) games to end the regular season, as the Wolfpack were ultimately placed in the First Four on Selection Sunday, and afterwards losing to the Texas Longhorns, finishing the season with a 20-14 mark - - In his introductory press conference on Monday, Wade indicated to the Tiger faithful that "We're coming back to try and hang a banner, win a national championship, or I'm going to be the first [head] coach fired from the same school twice," as Wade does become the first SEC men's basketball coach in conference history to be fired and re-hired by the same program "One way or another, we're going to make history!" - - In his first stint at LSU from 2017-22, Wade was 105-51 with an SEC regular-season championship and three (3) NCAA Tournament appearances, however, LSU would go on to fire him in March 2022 for his involvement in NCAA Level I and Level II recruiting violations - - Overall, Wade is 266-119 with eight (8) NCAA Tournament appearances in 12 seasons as a head coach at five (5) different NCAA D-I programs. . .Q: How do you expect for the Will Wade-LSU reunion to play out? - - **Update: It was announced that former player Justin Gainey, who has spent the past five (5) seasons as an assistant coach, will return to NC State as the Wolfpack's next head basketball coach and Wade's replacement, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday amid multiple reports - - Gainey, 49, played for the Wolfpack from 1996 to 2000 and later began his foray into coaching as an administrative coordinator with the program from 2006 to 2008 - - Gainey has spent the past five (5) seasons on Rick Barnes' staff at Tennessee, including the last four (4) as an assistant coach - Gainey also has served as an assistant at Elon, Appalachian State, Santa Clara, Arizona & Marquette - - Gainey was on AD Boo Corrigan's short list of replacements, and was believed to be one of the final candidates last offseason prior to the hire of Will Wade. . .Q: What are your thoughts on NC State's hire of former Wolfpack player Justin Gainey as the program's next head basketball coach?. . .

- 2026 NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 & Elite Eight Review & Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer will review and recap the eight (8) games from the Sweet Sixteen as well as the four (4) games from the Elite Eight from this past weekend - as well as discuss a few of the major takeaways from the first weekend of March Madness; the following matchups from the third and fourth round(s) of the 2026 NCAA Tournament listed below are discussed within this episode:

West Region: No.1 Arizona Wildcats vs. No.4 Arkansas Razorbacks (ARK HC John Calipari suffered the single worst loss of his career in the NCAA Tournament) . . .

West Region: No.2 Purdue Boilermakers vs. No.11 Texas Longhorns (Despite their loss, TEX G Tramon Mark (29) sets record for the most points scored by a Texas player in the NCAA Tournament since Kevin Durant (30) in the second round of the 2007 tournament) . . .

South Region: No.2 Houston Cougars vs. No.3 Illinois Fighting Illini (The Cougars struggled offensively, as a team shooting 34% in its lowest-scoring game of the season) . . .

South Region: No.4 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. No.9 Iowa Hawkeyes (IOWA first-year HC Ben McCollum, who won four (4) national titles at the D-II level, led the Hawkeyes to its fifth Elite Eight and first since 1987) . . .**NOTE: 38,369 NCAA Tournament brackets (0.144%) accurately predicted Iowa, Illinois, Arizona & Purdue advancing to the Elite Eight following the first four (4) games of the Sweet Sixteen . . .

East Region: No.1 Duke Blue Devils vs. No.5 St. John's Red Storm (Three (3) weeks post-surgery on his left foot, Duke's Caleb Foster helps the Blue Devils rally from a 10-point second-half deficit to stun St. John's and to advance to the Elite Eight) . . .**NOTE: It was just the second loss for St. John's head coach Rick Pitino in 14 visit(s) to the Sweet 16 - and just the second loss for this season's Red Storm in their final 23 games . . .

East Region: No.2 UConn Huskies vs No.3 Michigan State Spartans ( A true heavyweight clash between two of college basketball's traditional "blue bloods," as well as a battle between two of the sports' greatest coaches in Tom Izzo and Dan Hurley) . . .**NOTE: Following UConn's win over Tom Izzo and the Spartans, forward Alex Karaban won his 16th NCAA Tournament game as a starter . . .

Midwest Region: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.4 Alabama Crimson Tide (In an up-tempo matchup of two of the NCAA Tournament's highest-scoring teams, the Wolverines - led by the Big Ten player of the year Yaxel Lendeborg, guards Trey McKenney & Roddy Gayle Jr. - outlasted Labaron Philon Jr., who scored 35 points in what is most likely his final game under HC Nate Oats - and the Crimson Tide after a 33-6 advantage in bench points) . . .**NOTE: The Wolverines & Crimson Tide combined for a total of 74 shots in the first half alone, including 39 attempts from beyond the arc . . .

Midwest Region: No.2 Iowa State Cyclones vs. No.6 Tennessee Volunteers (Despite a strong effort from Iowa State guards Tamin Lipsey & Nate Heise, the Cyclones clearly struggled without star forward Joshua Jefferson - as star freshman Nate Ament & the Volunteers used a dominant effort on the glass and a strong second-half performance to advance to the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals for the third straight year) . . .

South Region: No.3 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. No.9 Iowa Hawkeyes (Under HC Brad Underwood, Andrej Stojakovic & the Fighting Illini are headed to their first Final Four in 21 years (2005) and their sixth trip overall, which has - believe it or not - never won a national title) . . .

West Region: No.1 Arizona Wildcats vs. No.2 Purdue Boilermakers (Now riding a 13-game winning streak, the Wildcats, which features a talented freshman class led by Koa Peat & Brayden Burries, frustrated the NCAA record-holder in assists, Purdue guard Braden Smith, and prevented his fellow four-year senior(s) in Trey Kaufman-Renn & Fletcher Loyer, from getting into a rhythm) . . .**NOTE: The trip to the Final Four is a long-awaited one for the Wildcats, who last made it to that stage in 2001 when they lost the title game under HC Lute Olson/Freshman Koa Peat, who was named the West Region's Most Outstanding Player, became just the sixth freshman to score at least 20 points to help his team win in both the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight . . .

Midwest Region: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.6 Tennessee Volunteers (Making the most out its' size advantage and athleticism on both sides of the court, Michigan advanced to its first Final Four since 2018 and ninth overall) . . .**NOTE: The unselfish Wolverines steamrolled the Volunteers to become the first program to win at least four (4) games in an NCAA Tournament by double digits while scoring a minimum of 90 points in each . . .

East Region: No.1 Duke Blue Devils vs. No.2 UConn Huskies (Two words: "Mullins MANIA!") . . .**NOTE: UConn head coach Dan Hurley is trying to coach the Huskies to a national title for the third time in four (4) seasons, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since John Wooden did so at UCLA in the 1970s . . .

- 2026 NCAA Tournament: Final Four Preview & Predictions: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer preview the two Final Four matchup(s) from this upcoming weekend, and provide their individually-selected, subjective predictions for both games, which are listed below: **Be Sure to Tune in for their picks/Share Your Final Four Picks with us via X - @TraditionFinest or Send Us a Message at [email protected]!

No.2 UConn Huskies vs. No.3 Illinois Fighting Illini (-2.5)            O/U139.5

No.1 Michigan Wolverines (-1.5) vs. No.1 Arizona Wildcats         O/U157.5

- NBA - - The Chicago Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey for conduct detrimental to the team Monday, just hours after he posted a lengthy video rant on social media about religion and other topics that included anti-gay sentiments - - Ivey has gone live on his Instagram account more frequently in the past week, posting at least three (3) lengthy videos after he was shut down for the rest of the NBA season by the team because of injury last Thursday - - The Bulls acquired Ivey, 24, from the Detroit Pistons prior to the NBA trade deadline last month, after he was drafted with the No.5 pick by the Pistons in the 2022 NBA Draft, and featured early by a rebuilding Detroit franchise prior to knee issues limiting him to only 30 games in 2024-25 and kept him out for the first 15 games this season - - Ivey has appeared in only four (4) NBA regular-season games for the Bulls, and has not saw any action on the court since Feb. 11 prior to the All-Star Break. . Q: What are your thoughts on the Chicago Bulls' announcement that they have officially waived guard Jaden Ivey following his anti-gay remarks? . . .

- Miscellaneous - - "Tiga, Tiga Woods, Ya'll:" Tiger Woods was arrested and charged with driving under the influence following a rollover crash in Jupiter Island, Florida last Friday afternoon, according to the Martin County Sherriff's Office - - Woods' Range Rover SUV rolled over after it clipped a trailer being hauled by a truck, after the truck had reportedly slowed down to turn into the adjacent driveway - - Woods' SUV swerved and flipped on its' side and slid down the road, after which point he told authorities that he was looking down at his cell phone ("I was just talking to the President of the United States". . .no BIG deal!) and changing the radio station in his SUV, which caused him to not see the truck slowing down prior to the rollover crash - - Woods, 50, was arrested on the suspicion of a misdemeanor DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, and while Martin County Sherriff John Budensiek reported that Woods' breathalyzer test revealed no signs of alcohol, Woods refused to submit to a urinalysis test for other drugs, according to the sheriff - - Another Martin County Sherriff's deputy found two hydrocodone pills in Woods' left pants pocket, according to the arrest affidavit - - After Woods agreed to perform field sobriety exercises, the deputy observed him "limping and stumbling to the right," to which, Woods informed the deputy that he has underwent a total of seven (7) back surgeries & more than 20 operations on his right leg, which he severely injured in a car wreck outside of Los Angeles in 2021 - - After Woods was arrested, he was transported to the Cleveland Clinic ER South, but he ultimately refused all medical treatment - - The 15-time PGA major champion was then transported back to Martin County Jail, where he was held until his release on a $1,000 bond later Friday night - - Neither Woods nor the PGA Tour has publicly commented on his arrest, however, multiple recordings of Woods' arrest have now made their way onto the Internet - - **Update: Per his attorney on Tuesday evening, Tiger Woods has checked himself into a rehab facility and is stepping away from the PGA Tour/golf until further notice. . .Q: What is going on with Tiger Woods? . . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 128 - "The Naismith Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: The College Coaching Carousel: Quite possibly, with the most buzzworthy news surrounding it, North Carolina men's basketball coach Hubert Davis was fired by the school, bringing a conclusion to a tumultuous week after the Tar Heels' stunning loss to VCU in the first round of this year's NCAA Tournament, exiting in the Round of 64 for the second consecutive year: The Tar Heels led the Rams by 19 in the second half but collapsed down the stretch in an 82-79 OT defeat, which was the largest comeback in the NCAA Tournament since 2018 - - North Carolina went 24-9 this season, despite projected top-five NBA draft pick Caleb Wilson sitting out the final nine (9) games because of hand & thumb injuries - - In five (5) seasons as coach, Davis was 125-54, finishing with a winning percentage of 69.8% - - The school did not specify the nature of Davis' departure in its statement Tuesday night, simply calling it a change in leadership, - but in a post on Instagram, Davis said he was "let go" by the university and that his desire was to continue to coach at Chapel Hill - - The decision to fire Davis came from a recommendation from current AD Bubba Cunningham and executive associate AD Steve Newmark, who will take over the AD role on July 1 - - That recommendation was accepted by chancellor Lee Roberts on Tuesday - - Davis' exit looms large over a historic or "blue blood" college basketball program that has long leaned into alumni and the so-called Carolina Way, and opens one of the most coveted positions in all of basketball - - His departure opens the possibility of the school seeking a coach outside the North Carolina family for the first time since Bill Guthridge's three-season stint ended in 1999-2000, as Matt Doherty, Roy Williams & Davis, who each followed Guthridge, are all UNC alumni. . .Q: Is it time for North Carolina to bring back the GOAT Michael "MJ" Jordan to Chapel Hill as the Tar Heels' next head basketball coach? If the school's leadership does, in fact, seek a coach outside of the North Carolina family, who are a couple of the most notable coaches the program should pursue (i.e., Alabama's Nate Oats, Florida's Todd Golden, etc.)? . . .Providence has hired South Florida's Bryan Hodgson as its next men's head basketball coach - - Hodgson is joining the Friars after leading the Bulls to a 25-9 record, the American Conference regular-season and postseason titles, and a bid to this year's NCAA Tournament as an No.11 seed in his lone season in Tampa - - The No.11 Bulls were eliminated from the 2026 NCAA Tournament after suffering a loss to No.6 Louisville last Thursday in the first round - - Hodgson is a former Nate Oats assistant coach at Buffalo and Alabama, who brings an up-tempo style of play predicated on high-efficiency shot selection - - Hodgson, 38, will replace Kim English, who went 48-52 in his three (3) years at Providence, which included back-to-back losing seasons in 2024-25 and 2025-26 - - Providence will be the third school in three (3) years for Hodgson, who spent two seasons at Arkansas State, where he led the program to a pair of 20-win seasons, including a 25-11 Sun Belt Conference regular-season title in 2024-25, which gave the Red Wolves their first NIT bid in more than three (3) decades, prior to accepting the head coaching position at South Florida - - Hodgson now inherits a program considered well-funded in the Big East Conference, and one that is looking to get back to winning consistently, a feat the program hasn't experienced since Ed Cooley left for Georgetown in 2023. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Providence's hire of USF's Bryan Hodgson as their new men's head basketball coach?. . .Syracuse has turned to its past by hiring former star guard, Gerry McNamara, in a bid to guide a fading men's college basketball program back to prominence, the school announced on Tuesday - - McNamara, 42, aptly nicknamed "G-Mac," is returning to where he & Carmelo Anthony led the Orange to a national championship in the 2003-04 college basketball season - - Following an outstanding playing career, McNamara then spent 14 years as an assistant coach at his alma mater under Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, and an additional season under his successor, Adrian Autry - - Now, he replaces Autry at Syracuse, who was fired after three (3) largely disappointing seasons in which the Orange went a combined 49-48 and extended their NCAA Tournament drought to five (5) seasons, the program's longest since 1967-72 - - McNamara returns to central New York after spending the past two seasons at Siena, where he led the Saints to a combined 37-30 record, which included a 23-12 finish this year in which they won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament & clinched their first NCAA Tournament berth since the 2010-11 season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on former star point guard & Siena coach Gerry "G-Mac" McNamara being hired as the next head men's basketball coach at Syracuse?. . .Creighton coach Greg McDermott is retiring after the 2025-26 NCAA college basketball season, the school announced on Monday, as his retirement will end a gilded run at Creighton, as McDermott, 61, won 365 games in 16 years as the head coach of the Blue Jays - - McDermott has a career record of 514-319 over 25 D-I seasons, including the 2023 Elite Eight and bids into 13 NCAA Tournaments, while the head coach at Northern Iowa, Iowa State & Creighton - - McDermott will be passing the job to the coach-in-waiting, Alan Huss, who had returned to the Creighton staff and was formally positioned for a year to take over this role, as the transition to Huss was hatched in April 2025, as he stepped down as the head coach at High Point University after leading them to a bid in the NCAA Tournament - - At Creighton, McDermott memorably coached his son, Doug McDermott, from 2010-11 to 2013-14, a time for which he was integral in helping bridge Creighton from the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) to the Big East Conference: The seamless transition from the MVC to the Big East will continue to be a huge part of Greg McDermott's legacy, as Creighton won the Big East regular-season title in the 2019-20 season, and had records of .500 or above in Big East play in 11 of 13 seasons in the league - - However, Creighton struggled this year by the standard McDermott set, finishing the season with a 15-17 overall record, and ending a streak of 10 consecutive 20-win seasons. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Creighton's announcement that head men's basketball coach Greg McDermott will retire at the end of the 2025-26 college basketball season? Thoughts on his replacement, coach-in-waiting Alan Huss? . . .2026 March Madness: First and Second Round Review & Recap: The first weekend of the 2026 NCAA Tournament is officially in the books, and there are, of course, distinct winners & losers - - Among the big winners are the Big Ten Conference and John Calipari, who has guided the Arkansas Razorbacks to its second Sweet 16 appearance in his second season with the program, while his former team, the Kentucky Wildcats, are headed back home to Lexington: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss & review the first and second-round games from this past weekend - as well as discuss a few of the major takeaways from the first weekend of March Madness: **Be Sure to Tune in to hear this week's "March Madness: First and Second Round Review" segment. . .

- 2026 NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 & Elite Eight Preview & Predictions: The Sweet 16 is officially set after a wild first weekend of the 2026 NCAA Tournament: If you wanted Madness, you sure got your case full of it - - If you wanted a shocking upset, you got it, thanks to the No.9 seed Iowa Hawkeyes pulling off the stunning upset victory over the defending national champion Florida Gators - - If you wanted thrilling buzzer-beaters, you got multiple orders, thanks to St. John's guard Dylan Darling, who delivered the game-winner to stun No.4 seed Kansas on Sunday to send the fifth-seeded Red Storm to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, and an all-time classic in the Nebraska-Vanderbilt matchup, punctuated by Tyler Tanner's potentially game-winning heave that was halfway down the basket until it wasn't - - If you crave high-quality basketball, last weekend certainly answered the call, with the exception of the first 30 minutes of the St. John's-Kansas second-round matchup, which could aptly be described as a football game that occurred on a hardwood floor inside of a gymnasium or arena - - Sweet 16 by Conference breakdown: Big Ten Conference (6), SEC Conference (4), Big 12 Conference (3), Big East Conference (2) and ACC Conference (1) - - The second weekend of March Madness has an extremely high bar to cross after fulfilling an epic, madness-inducing first weekend of the 2026 NCAA Tournament - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer will preview each of the third round (i.e., Sweet 16) matchups from this weekend, as well as provide their individual predictions/game picks for both the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, to present their Final Four picks for this year's tournament. . .**Be Sure to Tune in to hear this week's "Sweet 16 & Elite Eight Preview and Predictions" segment, and Share Your Game Picks with us via X/Twitter - @TraditionFinest or Send Us a Message at [email protected]!. . .

- NFL - - Debate/Discuss: Is Ty Simpson the best overall QB prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft? Why or why not? If not, which QB prospect would rate higher than the former Alabama Crimson Tide QB?. . .Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, has reached an agreement with the Seattle Seahawks on a four-year, $168.8 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid WR in NFL history, sources informed ESPN - - The deal averages $42.15 million per year and includes over $120 million guaranteed, both setting records for a WR - - With this new agreement, the two-time Pro Bowler is contractually tied to the Super Bowl reigning champion Seahawks through the 2031 NFL season - - Smith-Njigba's deal with the Seahawks is the latest jump in the ever-evolving WR market - one that will certainly impact the division rival, Los Angeles Rams, who could be working on a Puka Nacua extension/deal this offseason, as the star wideout is entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2026 - - **NOTE: Smith-Njigba's salary eclipses the previous high for a WR: Ja'Marr Chase's deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, which has an average annual value of $40.25 million, with the next highest average annual salary after Chase including Vikings WR Justin Jefferson ($35 million), Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb ($34 million), Steelers WR DK Metcalf ($33 million) and Jets WR Garrett Wilson ($32.5 million). . .Q: What are your thoughts on JSN's record-breaking contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks?. . .

- Miscellaneous - - "R.I.P. To a Legend:" According to a family statement posted on social media last Friday morning, on the island of Kaua'i (Hawai'i), Chuck Norris passed away at the age of 86 - - Norris was an American martial artist, actor, screenwriter, and author - - Throughout his life, Norris had earned and received several black belts: these include a 10th degree black belt in Chun Kuk Do (founded in 1990 by Chuck Norris himself, as it was based on his Tang Soo Do training in Korea while he was enlisted in the military), a 9th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, an 8th degree black belt in Taekwondo, a 5th degree black belt in Karate, a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from the Machado family, and a black belt in Judo - - In 1968, he won the Professional Middleweight Karate champion title, for which he held for six (6) consecutive years - - In 1969, he won Karate's triple crown for the most tournament wins in a year, and he was also recognized as the "Fighter of the Year," by Black Belt Magazine - - In 1989, he received his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 1999, he was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum's Hall of Fame as one of its 10 inaugural members - - In 2010, he was nominated and won the Lifetime Achievement Award at ActionFest - - Norris began working in the American film industry as a martial arts instructor for celebrities prior to making his big screen debut with a minor role in The Wrecking Crew (1968) - - Friend & fellow martial artist, Bruce Lee, invited him to play as one of the main villains in The Way of the Dragon (1972) - - His numerous roles in projects like Walker, Texas Ranger, and others only heightened the iconic tough guy persona - - Away from his acting roles, "Chuck Norris Facts" went viral with crazy and fun statements and/or puns, such as: "Chuck Norris had a staring contest with the son - and won," and "They wanted to put Chuck Norris on Mt. Rushmore but the granite wasn't tough enough for his beard,". . .Q: Do you have any Chuck Norris memorable moments that you would like to share? . . ."What the F***?:" A Maryland man who made history as the first quadruple amputee to compete in the professional televised American Cornhole League (ACL) has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly shooting & killing a passenger in his car during a heated argument - - Dayton Webber, 27, who became a champion cornhole player after losing his limbs and nearly dying from a bacterial infection in his infancy - faces murder charges in connection with the death of Bradrick Wells, authorities said on Monday - - According to a statement from investigators with the sheriff's office of Charles County in suburban Baltimore, Webber was driving his car with Wells as his front-seat passenger at about 10:25 p.m on Sunday when the pair began arguing in front of the others who were in the back seat of the vehicle - - Webber then allegedly shot Wells to death, pulled over in the community of La Plata, and asked the other passengers to assist in removing the body from the car - - The others refused, exited the car and fled the scene while Webber drove away with Wells' body in the front seat - - **NOTE: ESPN's SC Featured, known for telling inspiring sports stories, profiled Webber in 2023, and even ESPN SportsCenter gave Webber a spot on one of its top 10 play segments: the appearance showed Webber making four (4) consecutive cornhole shots into the hole, including by banking his bag off an opposing one on the final attempt, and the highlight ended with a SportsCenter anchor saying: "Dayton Webber - remember the name. . ." [**I honestly do not believe we will have that difficult of a time forgetting this guy. . .just sayin'] - - Authorities said they found Webber's car in Charlottesville, Virginia, about 150 miles from where Wells' body had been recovered - - They reportedly tracked Webber down to a nearby hospital, where he had allegedly sought treatment for an unspecified medical issue. . .Q: I have so many questions regarding this entire story, but what are your thoughts on the professional cornhole amputee player being charged with murder?. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 127 - The "Cinderella Story" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: "Holloway's Not-So-Holiday:" Authorities reportedly found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in University of Alabama basketball star Aden Holloway's apartment when he was arrested on a felony drug possession charge Monday morning, according to the charging documents obtained by ESPN on Tuesday - - So why is the amount relevant?. . .**NOTE: The amount discovered in the arrest is significant because any amount of marijuana above 2.2 pounds - or a kilogram (kg) - in the state of Alabama can result in a drug trafficking charge, whether or not there are clear signs of an intent to distribute - - Holloway, who was "removed from campus," and is not with the team just days prior to the onset of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, informed police that he wanted to exercise his Miranda Rights (aka "plead the fifth") and/or remain silent during the search of his apartment, but then told police that he "only smokes [and does not sell or distribute]," - - Following his arrest, Crimson Tide HC Nate Oats stated at a press conference that the team was preparing to play without Holloway - who was the team's No.2 scorer, averaging 16.8 points per game, behind only star guard Labaron Philon - when it faces No.13 seed Hofstra on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament - - Holloway posted $5,000 bail and was released from the Tuscaloosa County jail shortly after his initial arrest - - He has been charged with a class C felony drug possession charge, "not for personal use," and a failure to affix a tax stamp charge, both of which are felonies and carry a max sentence of 10 years in jail and a $15,000 fine - - While it's unclear what prompted the search warrant, as per the charging documents, the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force was executing a search warrant at Holloway's apartment when authorities located the marijuana in a backpack, a jacket pocket, a suitcase, in a TV entertainment stand and a vacuum-sealed bag, along with a significant amount of cash, the prescription sedative promethazine, as well as drug paraphernalia (i.e., a "rolling tray" & packaging materials) - all of which was discovered in just one room of Holloway's apartment - - Authorities also found marijuana in a box and a drawer in a spare bedroom. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Aden Holloway situation for the Alabama men's basketball program? How does this affect the Crimson Tide as they prepare for the 2026 NCAA Tournament?. . .First Four: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss & provide a detailed analysis of the First Four games of the 2026 NCAA Tournament that occurred on Tuesday & Wednesday evening, which included the following four (4) matchups:

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Midwest Region: No.16 UMBC Retrievers vs. No.16 Howard Bison

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: West Region: No.11 Texas Longhorns vs. No.11 NC State Wolfpack

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: South Region: No.16 Prairie View A&M Panthers vs. Lehigh Mountain Hawks

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Midwest Region: No.11 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks vs. No.11 SMU Mustangs

- 2026 NCAA Tournament/March Madness Bracket Review & Prediction Showcase: In this particular segment, JD and Spencer review the NCAA Tournament first-round matchups that have already occurred - - as well as provide their individual projections/predictions for each of the remaining games in the first & second round (i.e., Round of 64/Round of 32). . .**Tune in as JD and Spencer will fill in their NCAA bracket throughout this particular segment - - Also, Be Sure to Share Your Picks for the 2026 NCAA Tournament with us via X/Twitter - @TraditionFinest - and/or by Send Us a Message at [email protected]. . .

- NBA - - "Records are Wilt[ing] Down:" The legendary Wilt Chamberlain owns one less NBA record thanks to Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - - Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, broke a record held Chamberlain for more than six (6) decades by scoring at least 20 points in 127 consecutive regular-season games - - His streak started on Nov.1, 2024, as he averaged 32.5 points in the 127 games - - Gilgeous-Alexander, or SGA, reached the NBA milestone in last Thursday's home game against the Boston Celtics, surpassing 20 points with a 20-foot jumper with 7:04 remaining in the 3rd QTR, eliciting a roar from the Paycom Center crowd - - He received a standing ovation and MVP chants during the next time out when the historic moment was recognized on Arena's videoboard - - SGA finished the game with 35 points & nine (9) assists in the Thunder's 104-102 win over the Celtics - - **NOTE: Gilgeous-Alexander, who won last season's scoring title and ranks second in the league, averaging 31.8 points per game this season, is on the verge of becoming the first player since Michael Jordan to score at least 30 points per game in four (4) consecutive NBA seasons - - His true shooting percentage of .669 would tie the highest in league history for a 30-point per-game scorer, matching Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry from his unanimous MVP season in 2015-16. . .

- NFL - - The Minnesota Vikings agreed to a one-year contract with former Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, the team confirmed last Thursday afternoon (3/12) - - For Murray, the deal provides an opportunity to revitalize his career, and for the Vikings, it allows them to potentially elevate the QB play that largely doomed their 2025 season - - Minnesota will reportedly pay $1.3 million of Murray's $36.8 million salary for 2026, whereas the Arizona Cardinals will pay the remainder as part of their decision to release him last Wednesday: his new deal prohibits the Vikings from using a franchise or transition tag on him next offseason, sources told ESPN, which gives him a guaranteed path to NFL free agency next offseason if he elects to pursue it - - In Minnesota, Murray will have arguably the best supporting cast of his NFL career, which started in 2019 when the Cardinals selected him with the No.1 overall draft pick: he'll work with HC and play caller Kevin O'Connell, TE T.J. Hockenson and WRs Justin Jefferson & Jordan Addison, to improve the Vikings' offense next season - - Following the 2025 NFL regular season, O'Connell said that he wanted to find competition for starting QB J.J. McCarthy, who was the No.10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and finished last season with a 35.6 QBR in 10 starts - - Murray has been selected to two Pro Bowls and has accounted for 153 TDs in his career, but HC Kevin O'Connell was not willing to name him as the Vikings' starter in 2026. . .Q: What do you think of the move by the Minnesota Vikings to bring in QB Kyler Murray? Who will be the Minnesota Vikings starter next season: J.J. McCarthy or Kyler Murray?. . ."Fields, Great:" The Kansas City Chiefs found their newest backup QB for Patrick Mahomes on Monday, agreeing to send a 2027 sixth-round pick to the New York Jets to acquire Justin Fields, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter - - Without an experienced veteran after last year's backup Gardner Minshew signed with the Arizona Cardinals last week, the other QBs on the Chiefs' QB depth chart, Chris Oladokun & Jake Haener, have combined to start in just three (3) games at the professional level - - Fields, 27, wanted to continue his career in Kansas City, although other teams were interested in acquiring him, the sources reported to Schefter, after the Jets last week acquired QB Geno Smith in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, to become their new starter in 2026 - - To facilitate the trade, the Jets are paying $7 million of Fields' $10 million 2026 guaranteed salary, whereas Kansas City will pay the remaining $3 million, much like the Jets did when they traded for Smith last week - - Mahomes, a nine-year NFL veteran, is rehabbing after he underwent surgery in December to repair the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee - and while Mahomes is hoping to be available for the Chiefs' season opener, Fields is a mobile QB who will take on the responsibility of operating the offense under HC Andy Reid and OC Eric Bieniemy during the offseason and most likely much of NFL training camp - - Deemed expendable after the addition of Geno Smith, Fields' departure from the Jets franchise was long anticipated, as he struggled in his lone season with the franchise, which led to his benching on Nov. 17, after which, he never saw the field again, finishing the 2025 season on IR with a knee ailment that flared up after his demotion, ending another disastrous chapter in the Jets' long, winding search for a franchise-winning QB: Fields went 2-7 as a starter with the Jets, ranking 31st out of 36 passers in Total QBR (37.3), based on a minimum of 200 attempts - - He finished with seven (7) TD passes, one INT and 1,259 passing yards, including only 505 yards in his last five (5) starts - - A 2021 first-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears, Fields is 16-37 as an NFL starting QB, as the Chiefs will become Fields' fourth team in four (4) NFL seasons. . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding the Kansas City Chiefs' acquisition of QB Justin Fields? Could this potentially lead to a resurgence and/or an overall shift in trajectory of Justin Fields' NFL career?. . ."A Penguin Sighting in Denver:" The Denver Broncos are trading for Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle in exchange for first-, third- and fourth-round picks in this year's NFL Draft, a source reported to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday - - The Broncos will also receive a fourth-round pick in return from the Dolphins, while the picks heading to Miami include No.30 overall as well as the 30th selection in each of the third and fourth rounds - - Waddle will join a Broncos WR corps that includes Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr., Lil'Jordan Humphrey & Michael Bandy - - **NOTE: The Dolphins, at Nos. 11 and 30, are now one of five (5) teams that have two picks in the first round of this year's NFL Draft, joining the New York Jets (Nos. 2 and 16), Cleveland Browns (Nos.6 and 24), Kansas City Chiefs (Nos. 9 and 29) & Dallas Cowboys (Nos.12 and 20) - - Overall, Miami currently has 11 selections in next month's draft - - Following the trade that landed Waddle out of Miami, Tutu Atwell is atop the Dolphins' depth chart at WR, and is joined in the WR room by Jalen Tolbert, Terrace Marshall Jr., Malik Washington, Tahj Washington, Theo Wease Jr., and AJ Henning. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NFL trade on Tuesday that sent wideout Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins to the Denver Broncos? What does this trade tell you about the Denver Broncos' prospects for the upcoming 2026 season?. . .

- Miscellaneous - - World Baseball Classic Final: Team USA vs. Venezuela - - Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic for the first time Tuesday night, beating the favored United States team 3-2 in the championship game on DH Eugenio Suarez's tiebreaking double in the top of the 9th inning - - **NOTE: Venezuela became the second Latin American nation to win the WBC, after the Dominican Republic in 2013, whereas the U.S., meanwhile, has just one title, won in 2017 - - Once again, the U.S. struggled offensively, as the starting lineup was dormant for a significant portion of the game. . .until the 8th inning - - In front of what was largely a pro-Venezuelan crowd in the Miami metropolitan area, Bryce Harper's two-run homer with two outs in the 8th inning tied the score for the U.S., 2-2. . .but Suarez hit a go-ahead double in the 9th inning off Team USA pitcher Garrett Whitlock, and Daniel Palencia pitched a perfect bottom half of the inning, to secure the victory for Venezuela - - Maikel Garcia was selected the tournament MVP after hitting .385 with a WBC-high 10 hits and seven (7) RBIs - - Team USA's lineup, which was billed as quite possibly the greatest ever, in any setting, when the WBC tournament began, a thought validated by two exhibition contests that saw it amass 29 runs on 33 hits, never seemed to hit full throttle when the games began to matter: It dropped its fourth pool-play game, getting shut down by Italian American Michael Lorenzen, then snuck past Canada in the quarterfinals and edged out a star-studded Dominican Republic team in the semifinals on the strength of two solo HRs - - **NOTE: Despite a heralded roster of stars led by USA team captain, Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper & Paul Skenes, the U.S. remained without a title since 2017, as manager Mark DeRosa also led the 2023 American team that lost the WBC final 3-2 to Japan, and would come back for 2029 if offered another chance - - Notable Stats: Team USA captain Aaron Judge was 0 for 4 with three (3) strikeouts and hit .222 with five (5) RBIs in the tournament, while Bryce Harper improved to .214 with three (3) RBIs with two hits against Venezuela - - Alex Bregman batted .143 with four (4) RBIs, as the U.S. scored nine (9) runs in the three (3) knockout-round games while batting .188. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the way in which Team USA struggled with the bat for most of the WBC tournament, but especially so, in the Final versus Venezuela on Tuesday night? Should Mark DeRosa be retained as the United States' team manager for the 2029 World Baseball Classic?. . .